after the war: industrialization new inventions change america
TRANSCRIPT
After the War: Industrialization
New Inventions Change America
Natural Resources Spark Industrialization
• Oil & gas
– 1840: Kerosene distilled from oil, used to fuel lamps
– 1859: Edwin Drake uses steam-powered drill to reach oil beneath Earth’s surface.
– Oil boom hits PA, KY, IL, IN, & OH.
– Findlay, Bowling Green were atop largest known oilfield on Earth.
– Natural gas used to power much of N. Ohio
– Refineries convert oil to gas & kerosene
– Biggest refinery cities were CLE & PIT
– ! Standard Oil Refinery #1, CLE
• Steel– Bessemer Process (1850):
Superheat iron and blow air in to remove carbon.
– Upper Great Lakes had reserves of iron … and coal to superheat.
Upper Midwest Reserves
We weren’t embarassed!
• RR was biggest customer for steel
• Strong enough to be used in construction
– 1st skyscraper
– Brooklyn Bridge
– Bigger, faster ships
PROBLEM!
• What did all of the oil & steel factories need to be near?
• 1. Resources (oil, coal, iron)
• 2. Water (Transport, power)
Inventions Change Lives
• Electricity– 1880: Edison patents lightbulb– 1890: Cities in the N. begin
electrifying lights, streetcars, equipment.
– Meant factories could locate anywhere, not just near rivers.
Thomas Edison
Communications Revolution
• Typewriter (1867) made better record-keeping possible & easier carbon copies.
• Telephone (1876): Improved communications in & among cities.
• It was much easier to work w/ businesses across town, state, nation. Allowed smaller cities to grow
1876 Bell Telephone
For the people…
• Living conditions change– Used to live on farms, now in gray cities!– Women, kids used to stay home, now work– Used to live in houses, now in apartments– Used to trade, now earn & spend money
• Working conditions change– Used to work outdoors, now indoors– Used to farm & have flexible hours (worked
around nature’s schedule, now have set hours & work on a clock.
– Jobs more dangerous with large machinery, no safety rules
– Used to be guaranteed at least food & shelter – now, no guarantees!