The Industrial Revolution 1850-1900

New Products of the Industrial Revolution

Patents 1790-1860 36,000 issued 1860-1890 500,000 issued License to make, use, or sell an invention 1790-1860 36,000 issued 1860-1890 500,000 issued

Life in the 1860s No indoor electric lights No refrigeration In 1860, most mail from the East Coast took ten days to reach the Midwest and three weeks to get to the West Coast. A letter from Europe to a person on the frontier could take several months to reach its destination.

The Railroads On May 10, 1869, the transcontinental railroad, extending from coast to coast, was finished with the hammering of a golden spike at Promontory Point, Utah.

The growth of railroads led to the development of many towns throughout the western part of the United States. In 1883, the railroads adopted a national system of time zones to improve scheduling. a system we still use today.

Life in the 1900s Power stations across the country began providing electricity for lamps, fans, printing presses, and many other appliances.

Drilling for Oil Needed for factories to run efficiently Drilling was quicker. cheaper, and created a much larger supply than digging ditches or melting animal fat

Telegraph Invented by Samuel F. B. Morse

Telephone Invented by Alexander Graham Bell

By 1900, there were 1.5 million telephones in use all over the country, and Western Union Telegraph was sending roughly 63 million messages.

Thomas A. Edison Setup research lab Created a system for producing and distributing electrical power

Edison Perfected the light bulb

Edison Developed the phonograph

Developed the motion picture camera Edison Developed the motion picture camera

Developed a way to transmit it long distances (Transformers) George Westinghouse Made electricity safer and less expensive (AC Current) Developed a way to transmit it long distances (Transformers) More effective air brakes for trains

Electric sewing machine Other Inventions Electric sewing machine Cameras Refrigerator

Meanwhile on the farm… Mechanical Reapers Sod busting plows Mechanized tractors

The Bessemer Process In 1856, Henry Bessemer receives a patent on a process that made steel production easier and less expensive. The Bessemer process made possible the mass production of steel.

The Brooklyn Bridge, designed with steel cables suspended from high towers, was made possible by mass production.

John Roebling Designed & started building the Brooklyn Bridge- 1st suspension

It took another innovation to begin the transformation of cities Elevators

Early Skyscrapers Strong steel plus elevators mean that America’s teeming cities can now grow upwards!

The Railroads On May 10, 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad, extending from coast to coast, was finished with the hammering of a golden spike at Promontory Point, Utah.

Industrial Revolution Business Leaders Business Practices Business Regulations

“Robber Baron” or a “Captain of Industry” 1. Business Leaders Generally classified as either a “Robber Baron” or a “Captain of Industry”

I. Robber Barons Business leaders who made their fortunes by taking advantage of the public They drained natural resources and charged high prices

They persuaded public officials to interpret laws in their favor. They ruthlessly drove their competitors to ruin. They paid their workers meager wages and forced them to toil under dangerous and unhealthful conditions.

Adhered to a policy of “Social Darwinism”, as it applied to business practices

Social Darwinism or, Laissez-Faire Based on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution (1859) regarding natural selection and the survival of the fittest Businessmen are justified in using any means necessary to become rich and powerful, and the government should stay out!

Three business practices exemplified the philosophy of Social Darwinism Monopolies Cartels Trusts

Monopoly (Vertical Consolidation) one company completely controls a product or a service, from the means of production, to manufacturing, to transportation, and sales

Controlling the Market Bob’s Pizza Using Vertical Consolidation, Bob could control the Pizza market in town by controlling many of the costs associated with making his pizza! Bob’s Trucking Company Bob’s Cheese Factory Bob’s Farm

Monopoly (Horizontal Consolidation) One company buys out each of their competitors, and therefore owns every outlet for a certain product

Controlling the Market Bob’s Pizza Delaware Pizza Happy Time Pizza Pizza Pizza Using Horizontal Consolidation, Bob could control the Pizza market in town by buying the other Pizza shops! Bob’s Pizza Bob’s Pizza Bob’s Pizza Bob’s Pizza

Cartel – a loose association of businesses in a similar field or that make the same product and agree to limit supply to drive up prices

Trust multiple company’s selling the same product agreed that rather than compete with each other over prices and profits, they would agree to set their prices, and then split the profits evenly

II. Captains of Industry Still practiced the theory of Social Darwinism to a certain extent to increase their fortunes, but: They increased the supply of goods by building factories. They raised productivity and expanded markets, further lowering prices

They created jobs at decent wages and in safe factories that enabled many Americans to buy new goods and raise their standard of living. They also funded museums, libraries, and universities, many of which still serve the public today. Carnegie Hall

III. A Compromise? “The Gospel of Wealth” Philosophy that states a person should be able to make as much money as they can, BUT they should also use their wealth to improve society.

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie Captain of Industry for steel production in Pittsburgh Used Bessemer Process to produce stronger steel Utilized vertical consolidation for business purposes Born in Scotland

Carnegie as a Philanthropist A Philanthropist uses wealth to improve society Carnegie funded the building of libraries, education facilities, and music/arts facilities

Formed Standard Oil Company John D. Rockefeller Formed Standard Oil Company

John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company Wealthy individual who saw the oil industry as a way to get richer Made illegal deals with railroads to transport oil cheaper, thus weakening other refineries that he would eventually buy Utilized horizontal consolidation for business purposes

Business Cycle The growth and contraction of a nation’s economy growth peak recession depression Business Cycle The growth and contraction of a nation’s economy A new concept in the mid-late 1800s

While big business urged the federal government to adopt a Laissez-Faire attitude, many consumers and workers called for a “Social Welfare” policy to be enforced

Social Welfare It is the government’s responsibility to control big businesses in order guarantee quality products at fair prices for consumers, and fair pay and decent hours for workers

Sherman Antitrust Act Enacted in 1890 Effort by Congress to end trusts Ineffective due to lack of enforcement

Survival Guide for Poor Families Send children as young as age 6 to work Force children to leave school Ask for aid from a private charity (church, etc.) because Government Welfare is non-existent at this time!

Workday Length Typically 12 hours/day, 6 days/week After 1868 Government employees were guaranteed an 8 hour day (did not apply to private businesses)

Piecework Used by some companies Paid by how many items you produce Faster workers made more $

Frederick Winslow Taylor Organized and systemized factories Goal: to get workers to produce more in less time

Jacob Riis Illustrated the negative impact of children working in mines and factories Published photos of working children in How the Other Half Lives Wrote Children of the Poor

Lewis Hine Traveled around the country to photograph child workers in factories, mills, mines, and canneries. Documented the plight of working children Photos were used as evidence (to the public and government) of the need for child labor reform

Ida Tarbell Journalist who investigated and exposed misconduct among political and/or business leaders

Ida Tarbell Focused on Drilling, shipping, refining, and the sale of oil

Ida Tarbell Ida’s father was forced out of business by Standard Oil Perhaps this was revenge???