Industrialization
Industrialization American Industry Revolution started in early 1800’s Progressed slowly 1860 1.3 Million worked in Industry Population = 30 Million After Civil War Industry took off Early 1900 US=World’s leading industrial nation 1914 US Gross National Product 8X greater the 1865
What led to these changes? Resources People Government involvement Technology
Natural Resources The US had vast natural resources Water Timber Coal Iron Copper Bought cheaply, don’t need to import Most resources were in the West -Settlement helped to locate them Expanding RR brought settlers west and took material east
Natural Resources New resources Petroleum (oil) Kerosene for lamps and stoves Basis for petroleum industry By 1900 – Oil wells from PA to TX
The Workforce 1860-1910 – US population tripled Workers = lower class white freed slaves Immigrants Increase in population = higher demand for consumer goods
The Workforce Economic Cycle
Government Role in Industry Laissez-Faire – French for “Let Do” Government should not interfere w/ business Governments Role: Decrease spending, decrease taxes No costly regulations No wage or price control Trying to create Free market Competition Greater efficiency Supply and Demand regulates market
Government Role In Industry legislation to help business = Tariffs & Subsidies passed the Morrill Tariff = triple tariff Higher Tariffs hurt Americans in foreign trade -opposite of Laissez-Faire -Europe placed higher tariffs on US goods
Inventions Light bulb Thomas Edison 1879
Inventions Phonograph Thomas Edison 1877
Inventions Telephone Alexander Graham Bell 1876
inventions Gas powered car Duryea Brothers 1895
Inventions inventions helped increase national production; improve transportation and communication