Chapter 20: An Industrial SocietyChapter 20: An Industrial SocietySection 1: The Growth of IndustrySection 1: The Growth of IndustrySection 2: Railroads Transform the Section 2: Railroads Transform the

NationNation

Until the 1850Until the 1850’’s, people lit their s, people lit their homes with kerosenehomes with kerosene

They knew about They knew about petroleum, but petroleum, but didndidn’’t really know t really know how to get to it.how to get to it.

In 1859 Edwin In 1859 Edwin Drake found a way Drake found a way to drill for oil – and to drill for oil – and that started the oil that started the oil industry.industry.

A lot of other things happened A lot of other things happened that help America grow and that help America grow and

expandexpand America has a lot of America has a lot of

natural resourcesnatural resources (Helped industry and (Helped industry and

manufacturing)manufacturing) America had a growing America had a growing

populationpopulation (Growing demand for (Growing demand for

products)products) Improved Improved

transportationtransportation (shipping)(shipping) High immigrationHigh immigration (more workers)(more workers)

New InventionsNew Inventions (helped work get done (helped work get done

more efficiently)more efficiently) Investment CapitalInvestment Capital (businesses needed (businesses needed

money to grow)money to grow) Government Government

assistanceassistance (helped businesses (helped businesses

grow)grow)

A new and better way to make A new and better way to make steel (cheaper and stronger) was steel (cheaper and stronger) was

developeddeveloped One of its main uses was One of its main uses was

for new buildings – some for new buildings – some could now be built 10 could now be built 10 stories high.stories high.

Railroads were probably Railroads were probably the biggest users of steel.the biggest users of steel.

The Home Insurance Building which was built in 1885 in Chicago, Illinois is considered to be the world's first skyscraper as it was the first building entirely supported by a steel frame.

The Home Insurance Building was originally ten stories measuring 138 feet and another two stories were added in 1890

People started using People started using electricityelectricity Thomas Edison Thomas Edison

did hundreds and did hundreds and thousands of thousands of experiments with experiments with electricity.electricity.

He even came up He even came up with the first with the first successful/usable successful/usable light bulb.light bulb.

He even lit up He even lit up several blocks in several blocks in New York City, New York City, just to show how just to show how electricity could electricity could work.work.

Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell inventedinvented

The telephone – The telephone – the first major the first major improvement in improvement in communication communication since the since the telegraph.telegraph.

Other inventions – Other inventions – and and patentspatents for inventions:for inventions:

Document giving you Document giving you ownership of an idea ownership of an idea or productor product

Sewing machinesSewing machines New motors and New motors and

enginesengines TypewritersTypewriters Inventions for packaging Inventions for packaging

productsproducts Shoemaking machinesShoemaking machines

Railroads had the biggest impact Railroads had the biggest impact on America at the end of the 1800on America at the end of the 1800’’ss

There was even talk of building a railroad across There was even talk of building a railroad across

the entire country – a the entire country – a transcontinental railroadtranscontinental railroad

This was part of LincolnThis was part of Lincoln’’s s Pacific Railroad ActPacific Railroad Act

The Pacific Railroad Act, passed by Congress in The Pacific Railroad Act, passed by Congress in 18621862, , authorized the construction of the first transcontinental authorized the construction of the first transcontinental railway line connecting the east and west coasts. railway line connecting the east and west coasts.

The need for a The need for a transcontinental railwaytranscontinental railway to facilitate to facilitate transportation of transportation of persons and productspersons and products across the United across the United States became increasingly clear in the 1850s due to the States became increasingly clear in the 1850s due to the acquisition of acquisition of CaliforniaCalifornia and the resolution of the and the resolution of the OregonOregon boundary dispute. boundary dispute.

The Union Pacific Railway was to begin construction at The Union Pacific Railway was to begin construction at Omaha, Nebraska, with the objective of Omaha, Nebraska, with the objective of connectingconnecting with the with the Central Pacific Railroad, which was to begin construction at Central Pacific Railroad, which was to begin construction at the same time at Sacramento, California. the same time at Sacramento, California.

The law provided that after each railroad laid forty miles of The law provided that after each railroad laid forty miles of track, it was to receive track, it was to receive 6,400 acres of public lands6,400 acres of public lands and and government loans ranging from government loans ranging from $16,000 to $48,000$16,000 to $48,000 per per mile of trackmile of track completed. completed.

Two companies started Two companies started in opposite directionsin opposite directions

The Central Pacific The Central Pacific (from Nebraska) and (from Nebraska) and the Union Pacific (from the Union Pacific (from California)California)

Some of the men that Some of the men that worked on this railroad: worked on this railroad: Chinese immigrants, Chinese immigrants, ex Civil War soldiers, ex Civil War soldiers, freed slaves, and many freed slaves, and many Irish immigrants, and Irish immigrants, and some Mexicanssome Mexicans

After 6 years of working,After 6 years of working, They connected at They connected at

Promontory Point, Promontory Point, Utah.Utah.

They even drove in They even drove in the last spike – a the last spike – a golden one – to golden one – to signify the event.signify the event.

They had almost They had almost 2000 miles of track – 2000 miles of track – connecting all the connecting all the way to the west way to the west coast.coast.

Just for the record, the golden spike is not pure gold, but rather a mixture of

alloys, as gold is too soft to be hit with a hammer. It is in fact 73% gold and weighs 14.03 troy ounces.

The railroads had another The railroads had another effect on the country – they effect on the country – they

““changed timechanged time”” They had to come They had to come

up with a way to up with a way to keep track of the keep track of the trains and their trains and their schedules – schedules – railroad time.railroad time.

They divided the They divided the country up into 4 country up into 4 different time different time zones.zones.

We still use those We still use those today.today.

Ways the railroad changed Ways the railroad changed America:America:

Linked the East to Linked the East to the West.the West.

Helped people Helped people settle in the West.settle in the West.

Weakened the rest Weakened the rest of the Native of the Native AmericanAmerican’’s control s control of the West.of the West.

Gave people more Gave people more control of the westcontrol of the west