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Introduction of Steel
William Kelley discovered that blowing cold air on red-hot iron strengthened it, but it wasn't well recieved until the British made the same discovery a few years later. Despite a late start in the game, America caught up to Britain and Germany combined in steel production. -
Discovery of Oil
Despite getting its start in back rubs, oil was soon discovered to be highly combustible. Oil, petroleum, and kerosene were used to fuel lamps until the gasoline-burning internal combustion engine was invented in 1900. -
Railroad Boom
During the Civil War railroad production boomed. From the 1860's to the 1900's around 192,556 miles of track were laid. This allowed for movement of people and goods. -
The Birth of Trusts
John. D Rockefeller was the biggest name in oil in the 1800's. His goal to control all stages of production and his formation of the Standard Oil Company helped launch him to this status. With his power he choked out smaller companies and formed alliances with other massive companies in order to gain a monopoly on the oil industry. These alliances were later known as trusts. -
Labor Unions
After the Civil War, unions rapidly sprung up and by 1872 several hundred thousand workers were organized and thirty two national unions were in existence. As they aged, these unions continued to grow and got out of control. For many years the government struggled to keep these unions in check. -
Cotton Manufacturing
Northern capital moved cotton mills to the source and began producing spindles in new southern factories instead of northern factories. -
Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890
Forbid combinations in restraint of trade. Focused on big trusts rather than bad trusts. It proved ineffective until 1914 when it was perfected. -
Assembly Lines
This inventioned offered opportunities to semiskilled workers, most of whom were immigrants. It surpassed all former methods of production. -
Working Class
By the turn of the century, two out of three working Americans depended on factory wages. -
Rush to the Cities
American cities tripled and four in ten Americans lived in the city. Big industry in the cities provided more jobs than ever before so unskilled workers flocked there in search of opportunity.