1. Chapter 19 Section 1

2. U.S. Industrial Revolutions
2nd Industrial Revolution
Period of rapid industrial growth in the US during the late 1800s
Steel, oil, railroad expansion, electricity, autos and planes
US becomes world’s industrial leader by 1900
1st Industrial Revolution
Early 1800s, begun in Britain
Products now made by machines rather than by hand
Cottage work to factories
Transportation changes

5. The Industrial Revolution in America
Why does this 2nd Revolution take place in the U.S.?
Plentiful natural resources (forests, water supply, minerals)
Growing population (31-76 million between )
Improved transportation (railroads, canals)
High immigration
New inventions
Investment capital (money loaned to businesses by banks & wealthy)
Government assistance (tariffs, land grants, subsidies)

6. Rise of the Steel industry
William Kelly and Henry Bessemer develop new process for making steel
Used only 1/7 of coal previously used
Output increased by 500 times (plows, barbed wire, beams, RR ties)

7. Electricity Generators in 1870’s – produce electric current
Thomas Edison invents a way for practical electric lighting/replaces gaslights
Alexander Graham Bell transmits human speech using electricity