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A New Industrial Age

A New Industrial Age. Chapter 6 Franz. The Expansion of Industry. Section 1. Learning Targets. I can explain why industry improved so much in the late 1800’s. I can evaluate how new technology changed Americans’ lives. Natural Resources Fuel Industrialization. Some Background…

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A New Industrial Age

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  1. A New Industrial Age Chapter 6 Franz

  2. The Expansion of Industry Section 1

  3. Learning Targets • I can explain why industry improved so much in the late 1800’s. • I can evaluate how new technology changed Americans’ lives.

  4. Natural Resources Fuel Industrialization • Some Background… • After Civil War, U.S. was still farming nation • By 1920, became industrial power • Industrial Boom due to: • Natural Resources • Gov’t support of business • Growing Urban Population

  5. Natural Resources Fuel Industrialization • Black Gold • Native Americans used oil for natural uses • By 1840, Americans used it to light lamps • Edwin L. Drake • Used steam engine to pump oil out of ground • Oil Boom • Oil companies started up across the nation • Started to distill oil into kerosene • Would later discover use for gasoline too

  6. Oil in L.A.

  7. Natural Resources Fuel Industrialization • Bessemer Steel Process (1850) • Coal and Iron were abundant • Injected air into molten (hot) iron to remove carbon and other impurities • This created early version of steel! • Much stronger • Easy to make, abundant resources • What can you do with steel?

  8. Natural Resources Fuel Industrialization • New Uses for Steel: • Railroads (track) • Farming Machinery • HUGE construction • Brooklyn Bridge (1883) • Skyscrapers

  9. Inventions Promote Change • Some Background… • Plentiful resources and impressive ingenuity changed the way people lived and worked

  10. Inventions Promote Change • The Power of Electricity: • Thomas Edison (1876): • Perfected incandescent light bulb • Created system that distributed electricity across city • By 1890, electricity powered most businesses • Could locate wherever they wanted • Allowed business to grow tremendously

  11. Inventions Promote Change • Inventions Change Lifestyles: • Christopher Sholes • The Typewriter • Alexander Graham Bell • The Telephone • Women found work in factories • Workers’ standard of living improved • Less back breaking work • 10 fewer hours each week

  12. The Age of the Railroads Section 2

  13. Learning Targets • I can explain how the transcontinental railroad influenced American Business • I can describe how the Federal government influenced railroads

  14. A Little Background… • The growth of railroads benefitted the nation, but also led to corruption and led to the need for government regulation.

  15. Railroads Span Time and Space • A National Network: • By 1856, went to the Mississippi River • Transcontinental Railroad • By 1869, the U.S. had a railroad that went from east coast to west coast • 1865 = 30,000 miles of track • 1890 = 180,000 miles of track!

  16. Railroads Span Time and Space • Romance and Reality: • Railroad workers have new opportunities • Hired Chinese and Irish Immigrants • Also hired Civil War veterans desperate for work • In 1888, 2,000 men died, 20,000 were injured!

  17. Railroads Span Time and Space • Railroad Time: • Noon = sun at its highest • Noon in Boston was 12 minutes later than New York! • 1869, proposed dividing world into 24 time zones • U.S. would get four • Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific • Helped businesses become more efficient

  18. Opportunities and Opportunists • New Towns and Markets: • Railroads linked towns • This promoted new business • New towns emerged along railways • Denver and Seattle

  19. Opportunities and Opportunists • George M. Pullman: • Built a factory for making “sleeper” cars for trains • Built a city for his workers • Provided housing, medicine, etc… • Eventually faced a strike when he refused to lower rent, when he cut pay

  20. Opportunities and Opportunists • Credit Mobilier: • Stockholders of the Union Pacific Railroad • Organized a construction company • Gave them a corrupt contract, and pocketed the profits themselves • Even game some of the $ to buy congressmen’s approval!

  21. The Grange and the Railroads • Railroad Abuses: • Railroad companies favored businesses over farmers • Often fixed prices with other railroads to eliminate competition and drive up profits • Farmers had little choice who to transport goods with

  22. The Grange and the Railroads • Granger Laws: • Farmers, or Grangers, got together to try and create change • Voted for legislators that would support their cause • In Munn vs. Illinois the Supreme court supported the new Granger Laws that limited prices

  23. The Grange and the Railroads • The Interstate Commerce Act: • At first, Supreme Court said Federal Government could not regulate trade from state to state • So Congress acted: • Created Interstate Commerce Act • Allowed Fed to control trade by railroad through the states • Unfortunately, the act was not well enforced

  24. The Grange and the Railroads • Panic and Consolidation: • Corruption, mismanagement, overbuilding, and competition pushed many railroads towards bankruptcy • The “Panic of 1893”, an economic depression, made things even worse • By 1900, just 7 companies controlled 2/3 of the nations railroads

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