Industry and Railroads

1. Unit 5- A New Industrial Age

2.  I. The US became the industrial leader of the
world by 1920
 Reasons:
 1. Natural resources
 2. Government support for business
 3. Cheap labor and markets in cities

3.  A. Black gold
 Edwin L. Drake first used a steam engine to
drill for oil
 Oil boom started in Midwest and Texas

4.  B. Steel Industry
 Bessmer Process (Henry Bessmer)- air was
injected into iron to take out impurities and
form steel
 Steel became critical in American economy:
 1. Railroads
 2. Bridges
 3. Skyscrapers

5.  C. Electricity
 Thomas Edison invents the light bulb and
system to distribute electric power

6.  D. Other inventions
 1. Christopher Sholes invents the typewriter
in 1867
 2. Alexander Graham Bell invents the
telephone in 1876

7. II. Transcontinental Railroad
A. Major cities grew and prospered because of
railroad (Chicago, IL Denver, CO Seattle, WA)
B. George Pullman invented and built
sleeper cars
C. Interstate Commerce Act allowed the
government to regulate railroads

8.  D. Railroad Time- People began to follow time
zones as travel and business increased