Ch.6 – The Expansion of American Industry Section 1: A Technological Revolution

Facts from the year 1902 Average life expectancy: 47 Homes w/bathtub: 14% Homes w/telephone: 8% –3 minute call from Denver to NYC = $11 Maximum speed limit in most cities: 10 mph Average wage: 22¢ an hour Average worker made: $ per year

Facts from the year 1902 More than 95% of all births took place at home 90% of all U.S. physicians had no college education Most women only washed their hair once a month and used eggs yolks for shampoo Five leading causes of death: 1.Pneumonia & Influenza 2.Tuberculosis 3.Diarrhea 4.Heart Disease 5.Stroke

Facts from the year 1902 There was no Mother’s or Father’s Day 10% of U.S. adults couldn’t read or write Marijuana, Heroin and Morphine were available over-the-counter –According to one physician, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health”

Changes in Daily Life Life in  –No indoor lighting –Used ice blocks to keep food cool (expensive) –Long-Distance Communication Took up to a month to deliver a letter from East to West Coast By –Standard of living was one of the highest in the world –Why? Increased productivity Patents: : 36,000; : 500,000 –Lots of NEW inventions!

New Forms of Energy Oil –In 1858, Edwin Drake struck oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania (boomtown) –Oil business grew rapidly Oil Refineries transformed crude oil into kerosene Byproduct – gasoline was seen as a waste product and simply thrown away

InventionInventorImpact on Society Light BulbThomas Edison Affordable in-house lighting, extended the working day Transformer George Westinghouse Allowed electricity to be sent over long distances Sewing MachineSinger Clothing production was cheaper and faster, created more jobs, Refrigerator Decreased food spoilage and the need to use other means of preservation

Railroads Create a National Network Transcontinental Railroad: railway extending from coast to coast –Central Pacific   Union Pacific –Project began in 1862 and finished on May 10, 1869 at Promontory Summit –Most workers were immigrants from Ireland and China

Railroad Developments Problems –Noisy, dirty, and uncomfortable for travelers Improvements –Steel rails replaced iron rails; track gauges and signals were standardized –Safety: Air brakes; telegraph system for moving trains to communicate w/each other (reduced the risk of collisions)

Railroads & Industry Faster and more practical means of transporting goods Lower costs of production: shipping costs dropped thus, more goods could be sent at lower prices Creation of national markets: businesses could market products nationally and locally Model for big business Stimulation of other industries

The Bessemer Process In 1856, Henry Bessemer received the patent on the process Process made it much easier and cheaper to remove the impurities from iron –Process: Melt iron, add carbon, and remove impurities Steel is lighter, stronger, and more flexible Steel was now mass produced

The Bessemer Process Symbols of its endurance –Brooklyn Bridge –Chicago Reliance Building