After the War: Industrialization

New Inventions Change America

Natural Resources Spark Industrialization

• Oil & gas

– 1840: Kerosene distilled from oil, used to fuel lamps

– 1859: Edwin Drake uses steam-powered drill to reach oil beneath Earth’s surface.

– Oil boom hits PA, KY, IL, IN, & OH.

– Findlay, Bowling Green were atop largest known oilfield on Earth.

– Natural gas used to power much of N. Ohio

– Refineries convert oil to gas & kerosene

– Biggest refinery cities were CLE & PIT

– ! Standard Oil Refinery #1, CLE

• Steel– Bessemer Process (1850):

Superheat iron and blow air in to remove carbon.

– Upper Great Lakes had reserves of iron … and coal to superheat.

Upper Midwest Reserves

We weren’t embarassed!

• RR was biggest customer for steel

• Strong enough to be used in construction

– 1st skyscraper

– Brooklyn Bridge

– Bigger, faster ships

PROBLEM!

• What did all of the oil & steel factories need to be near?

• 1. Resources (oil, coal, iron)

• 2. Water (Transport, power)

Inventions Change Lives

• Electricity– 1880: Edison patents lightbulb– 1890: Cities in the N. begin

electrifying lights, streetcars, equipment.

– Meant factories could locate anywhere, not just near rivers.

Thomas Edison

Communications Revolution

• Typewriter (1867) made better record-keeping possible & easier carbon copies.

• Telephone (1876): Improved communications in & among cities.

• It was much easier to work w/ businesses across town, state, nation. Allowed smaller cities to grow

1876 Bell Telephone

For the people…

• Living conditions change– Used to live on farms, now in gray cities!– Women, kids used to stay home, now work– Used to live in houses, now in apartments– Used to trade, now earn & spend money

• Working conditions change– Used to work outdoors, now indoors– Used to farm & have flexible hours (worked

around nature’s schedule, now have set hours & work on a clock.

– Jobs more dangerous with large machinery, no safety rules

– Used to be guaranteed at least food & shelter – now, no guarantees!