Industrialization of America: Technology

Industrialization of America: Technology

Overview

• The late 19th century marked significant changes in American industry, particularly in the production and sale of goods.
• Shift from local/regional production to mass production for a global market.

The Railroad Revolution

• The railroad was a key technological innovation that enabled the creation of a national market.
• Expansion: Railroad mileage increased five-fold after the Civil War.
• Government Support:
  • The federal government provided land grants and loan subsidies to railroad companies.
  • Approximately 170 million acres of land were granted.
• Transcontinental Railroads: By the end of the century, four new transcontinental railroads connected:
  • Nebraska to California
  • New Orleans to Los Angeles
  • Kansas City to Los Angeles
  • Minnesota to Washington
• These advancements facilitated easy access between the East and West, establishing a national market for goods.

Advancements in Steel Production

• The Bessemer Process significantly enhanced steel production.
• Bessemer Process:
  • Invented by Henry Bessemer in the 1850s.
  • Involved blasting air through molten iron to produce stronger, higher quality steel.
  • Allowed manufacturers to produce greater quantities of higher quality steel.

Access to Natural Resources

• Greater access to natural resources like coal and oil fueled industrial expansion.
• Coal:
  • Initially the primary energy source for factories and locomotives.
  • Especially anthracite coal from Western Pennsylvania.
• Oil:
  • Eventually surpassed coal as the main fuel for industry and automobiles.

Communication Innovations

• Advancements in communication technology played a crucial role.
• Telegraph:
  • Invented by Samuel Morse in 1844.
  • Telegraph wires expanded significantly during this period.
  • Enabled long-distance communication at the speed of electricity.
  • A trans-Atlantic cable connected America to Europe, creating an international market for goods like coal, oil, steel, and grain.
• Telephone:
  • Invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
  • Bell founded the Bell Telephone Company.
  • By the end of 1880, approximately 50,000 telephones were in use in America.