Big Business and the West

• First oil well is drilled, Pennsylvania, 1859.

Jan 1, 1859

Edwin Drake invested $200 to the PA oil rock company. He drilled and began producing oil.

• Transcontinental railroad is completed, 1869.

May 10, 1869

This allowed for easier travel. Items could be shipped for less money and arrive even quicker.

• Rockefeller founds Standard Oil, 1870.

Sep 17, 1870

Largest oil company of its time. It started in Ohio, and became a monopoly.

• Bell patents telephone, March 7th 1876.

Mar 7, 1876

This revolutionized communication, however not at first. People thought it was a toy at first glance, little did they know it would become the biggest form of communication.

• First telephone on White House, May 7th 1877.

May 10, 1877

President Rutherford B. Hayes installed the first phone in the White house. The phone was put in the oval office for the president.

• Edison perfects incandescent light bulb, December 31st 1879.

Dec 31, 1879

This is perhaps the biggest moment in technology ever. The lightbulb changed the world. Intead of candles and oil lamps, we could now use electricity to light our houses.

• Railroads set up standard time zones, November 18th 1883.

Nov 18, 1883

This gave the country time zones. Different parts of the country get sunlight at different times, this created a need for standard time zones and organization.

• First electric trolley line, Richmond, VA

Feb 2, 1888

This was the first time electricity was really used for transportation. It allowed for quick, cheap, and easy transportation.

• Sherman Antitrust Act is passed

Jul 2, 1890

This made trusts illegal and angered big business owners.

• Carnegie Steel Company is formed, 1892

Jan 1, 1892

Located in Pittsburgh, PA. Produced steel for less money and this allowed more things to be built with steel.

• J.P. Morgan forms U.S. Steel

Jan 1, 1901

Largest business ever launched, and still remains the largest steel company.