Heimler's History: Industrialization in America

Introduction

• Focus on Unit 6 of AP U.S. History Curriculum
• Theme: Industrialization of America
  • Causes and effects
• Current video focuses on technology

Changes in Industry (Late 19th Century)

• Shift from local/regional to global market production
• Mass production and consumption enabled by technological innovations

Key Technological Innovations

Railroads

• Crucial for creating a national market
• Post-Civil War expansion: miles of railroads increased five-fold
• Supported by federal government
  • Land grants and loan subsidies: 170 million acres granted
• Four new transcontinental railroads by the end of the century
  • Connections made from Nebraska to California, and other major routes

Steel Production

• Bessemer Process (1850s)
  • Developed by Henry Bessemer
  • Method: Air blasted through molten iron to produce higher quality steel
  • Result: More and better quality steel production

Access to Natural Resources

• Coal and oil as primary energy sources
• Anthracite coal (Western Pennsylvania) key for industry and locomotives
• Transition from coal to oil, especially for automobiles

Communication Advances

• Telegraph (Samuel Morse, 1844)
  • Proliferation of telegraph wires
  • Trans-Atlantic cable connected America to Europe
• Telephone (Alexander Graham Bell, 1876)
  • Foundation of Bell Telephone Company
  • Rapid adoption: 50,000 telephones in use by 1880

Conclusion

• Overview of technological innovations
• Encouragement to explore more Unit 6 videos
• Call to action for subscribers