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Bessemer Process
Henry Bessemer created a process for producing steel. It was the first inexpensive way to mass produce steel, from molten pig iron. William Kelley assisted in the development of this process. This process was the blasting of air into pig iron to make the impurities seperate, making them easier to take out. The Bessemer process was patented in 1855. -
Edwin Drake Strikes Black Gold
Since in May 1859, Edwin Drake had drilled over seventy feet into the ground with his new drilling method, and it was on this day in August that he finally struck black gold by using an iron pipe to drive into bedrock. His method of using the iron pipe was used widely for oil drilling during the oil rush in Pennsyvania after his success. -
Christopher Sholes Invents the Typewriter
Christopher Sholes invented and patented the first typewriter and the QWERTY key board we still use today in 1864. He eventualy got two more patents as he improved the typewriter, and then sold all of his patents to Remington Arms Company, where the typewrter was marketed and sold and the Remington Typewriter. -
Completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad
The first ever trans-continental railroad was completed, spanning across the U.S. from Sacremento to Omaha. Before, a journey across the U.S. would take months, but now it only took days, making trade and travel easier. -
John Rockefeller
Founded the Standard Oil Company. Eventually, he controlled 90 percent of the countries pipelines. He was shut down in the 1890s due to a violation of the antitrust law. -
Credit Mobilier Scandal
Major Stockholders of railroads created a company called Credit Mobilier of America, and gave it contracts to build a railroad. They illegally maniputaled construction contracts to make more money. Shares of the profits were offered to congressman, who then could approve federal grants without paying much attention to expenses of building. The New York Sun exposed them, and it tarnished the reputations of many influential people including the incoming vice president, Henry Wilson. -
Alexander Graham Bell Invents the Telephone
Alexander Grahahm Bell invented the first telephone. He fought a long battle to get the patent and prove that he was the sole inventor, but he eventualy got the patent. Three days later the first sentence was spoken through a telephone-"Mr. Watson, come here: I want you." -
Munn vs. Illinois
In this case, the supreme court upheld the power of the government to regulate private industry. The case developed after the government set maximum rates that agriculture companies could charge for storage of goods. Some argued that the storage units were public, but in the end the court reduced the governments control over private industries. -
Thomas Edison Invents the Ligh Bulb
Thomas Edison makes his first break through on inventing and electric lightbulb. A year later he managed to figure out how to use carbonized bamboo as the filament, and a year after that started his own electric light company. -
Haymarket Riot
A labor protest in Haymarket Square turned into a rito after a bomb was thrown at police. it was viewed as a huge setback in the labor protest force, which was fighting for things such as an eight-hour work day. There were eight protesters killed that day, who were viewed as martyrs in the force. -
Interstate Commerce Act
The Interstate Commerce Act was the first successful federal regulation of railroads. It set guidelines for how the railroads could do business, like banning discriminatory rates and promoted competition to prevent a monopoly railroad. -
Homestead Strike
A dispute between Carnegie Steel Company and it's workers. It ended in a gun battle between the workers and the management of the company. Many of the management was beaten or killed, and they were banished by the workers to Pittsburg. There was a lot of public support for the workers, and they tried but failed to take over the mill. Eventually, many of them were arrested. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike marked a strike and boycott of railroads, severely disrupting railroad traffic in the midwest. The reason for the Pullmam Strike was that the Pullman Palace Car Company cut the wages of the workers, but did not cut Pullman rent costs and other living costs. It was the first strike to be ended using injunction, and the holiday Labor Day was created as a concilatory gesture to the labor forces afterwards. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
In the late 1900s, a form of business developed called trusts. It led to the manipulation of prices and stifled competition. The Sherman antitrust act was the first law against trusts, allowing federal action against the use of trusts. -
JP Morgan
Funded General Electric, US steel, and many other major companies. Without him, many major contributors to the industrial revolution would have never made as big an impact on their industries as they did. -
Eugene Debs
United railway workers into the first union industrial craft in the US. he was then sent to jail for leading the pullman strike. He was an effective leader who spoke out against the government many times, including against the Espionage Act, whih was the perscution of of people with violent charges. -
Henry Ford Establishes Motor Company
Henry Ford founded the Ford motor company in 1903. Five years later, they introduced their first Model T. Since the demand was so great for these cars, he came up with a new mass-production method, the assembly line. The Ford motor company is still around today. -
Wright Brothers Invent First Plane
The Wright Brothers, known as the pioneers of aviavtion, flew the first ever fully powered airplane. Two years later, they flew a more practical airplane. They offered rides on the plane to the working force in Europe, and eventually moved on to the USA. -
Mother Jones
Mother jones led a children's march to protest child labor. Organized strikers wives and led many non-violent movements. -
Lochner vs. New York Decision
Joseph Lochner was fined $50.00 for allowing and employee in his bakery to work for more than 60 hours a week. He appealed to the Supreme Court, saying the law was unconstituional. The Supreme Court declared that the law was unconstituional, because since the trade was not "unhealthy" (like coal mining) there was no reason for the hoyrs to be regulated. This case influenced the judiciary for over thirty years, and many labor laws limiting work hours were struck down by the jury.
