Heimler's History: Unit 6 - Industrialization in America

Overview

• Focus on the industrialization of America during the late 19th century.
• Exploration of the causes and effects of industrialization.
• Emphasis on technological advancements.

Changes in Industry

• Shift from localized production to mass production for global markets.
• Industrialization allowed for goods to be mass-produced and sold worldwide.

Key Technological Innovations

Railroads

• Central to creating a national market by facilitating transportation.
• Post-Civil War: Railroad miles increased five-fold.
• Federal Government supported with land grants and subsidies (170 million acres).
• Four new transcontinental railroads built by the end of the century.
  • Connected Nebraska to California, New Orleans to Los Angeles, Kansas City to Los Angeles, and Minnesota to Washington.

Steel Production

• Henry Bessemer's process (1850s) revolutionized steel production.
• Bessemer Process: Blasts air through molten iron for stronger steel.
• Resulted in higher quantity and quality steel production.

Natural Resources

• Coal and oil were key energy sources.
• Anthracite coal from Western Pennsylvania was significant.
• Oil eventually surpassed coal, especially for automobiles.

Communication Advancements

• Telegraph: Invented by Samuel Morse (1844), expanded in this period.

  • Telegraph wires expanded, linking U.S. regions.
  • Trans-Atlantic cable connected America and Europe, fostering international markets.

• Telephone: Invented by Alexander Graham Bell (1876).

  • Bell Telephone Company founded.
  • By 1880, approximately 50,000 telephones in use in America.

Conclusion

• Technological advancements were pivotal in the industrial transformation of the U.S.
• These innovations laid the foundation for a national and international market system.

Study Tips

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