1. THE SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 1865-1905
THE AGE OF INVENTION
RISE OF BIG BUSINESS
ORGANIZATION OF LABOR

2. Learning Goals
Gain an understanding of how the United States became an economic giant in the post civil war era with breakthroughs in science and technology.
Gain an understanding of the U.S. economy, how it works, and how it impacts you.
Gain an understanding of labor unions and their function.
To be able to connect the 2nd industrial revolution to the immigration boom in the coming years in the United States and the rising prominence of the U.S. politically

3. Age of invention –steel-
Steel-Bessemer process made steel production more efficient and made steel stronger
15,000 tons in 1865 became 28 million tons by 1910
Cleveland, Ohio Pittsburg Penn, became steel giants
Buildings, bridges, and railroads benefited from steel.
Steel became the foundation to our economy and our rise economically.

4. Transportation Steel and oil led to a surge in transportation
Steel prices dropped from $90 a ton to $12 a ton in the 1890’s. Cheaper steel = faster growth.
Similarities to Today
Transcontinental railroad completed in 1869 because of steel. It connected the east and west coasts What effects would this have on the country?
Steel provided millions of jobs by the turn of the century. How did this inspire immigration?

5. The Horseless Carriage
Horseless carriage, the forerunner to the car was invented in 1770 in France
1876 the first practical car was invented in the United States
Only used by the wealthy/ Car was to expensive.
Henry Ford would change the cost of a car by the mid-1900’s. How?

6. Flight
Airplanes would be developed by the turn of the century in Dayton, Ohio.
First flight lasted about 12 seconds and was considered a success.
The Dream of Flight (A Library of Congress Special Presentation Commemorating the Centennial of Flight)

7. Communications
Telegraph used dots and dashes to communicate over a long distance
Samuel Morse developed the telegraph and Morse code
Telephone was invented by Bell
AT&T was born out of the telephone
The American Experience | The Telephone
Thomas Edison and the light bulb were invented and soon houses would become illuminated with light.

8. The U.S. Economy
Capitalism- an economic system where (most) things are owned by people or an individual, not by government or communities, and where people work for money in order to buy needs and wants.
Free Enterprise- consumer and business’ determine price on an agreed good or service, not the government.
Critics-Karl Marx- to many inequalities in wealth. Very few rich and many poor
Develops communism- government run economy – very little poor but very little advance

9. Problems with Capitalism
Social Darwinism-in society, the strong will survive and the weak will die
Gave more cause to the idea of communism
Poor were cast aside because they were blamed for their problems in life and were given no help.
“Then they better get on with dying and decrease the surplus population”
---- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

10. The Birth of the Economy
Rise of corporations-owners raise money by selling stocks
Carnegie was the first to gain wealth by selling stocks
Made U.S. Steel the world wealthiest and most profitable business at the time
Created a monopoly on steel in the U.S. by way of a trust

11. Cont… Rockefeller also created a monopoly in the Oil business
Horizontal integration-one company’s control of other companies producing the same product
Vertical integration-acquiring companies that provide materials and services
Creation of mass marketing and the birth of consumerism

12. Labor Organizes –Unions-
Most laws protected the owners, not the workers
Congress passes the Sherman Antitrust act-outlawed monopolies and trusts
10%of the nation controlled 75% of the wealth. What does this mean?
75% of nations workers earned less than a dollar a day.
What is a labor union and what is its function?

13. The New Working Class
New Immigrants (Eastern and Southern Europe), Women, and Children
1.5 million children from ages were working
Child labor in Factories During the Industrial Revolution
Working conditions reached an all time low
The History Place - Child Labor in America

14. Working Conditions Work hours could range between 10-19 hours.
Most only made about $10/week.
Worked six days a week, no sick or vacation days.
Over 30,000 workers were killed in a single year on the job.
Companies tightened their grip by building community homes

15. Workers Fight Back
Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor is formed to protect workers
Some strikes become violent
Labor unions lose favor in the United States-deemed communist
nmah sweatshop exhibition b section

16. Black Gold Process of refining crude oil gave oil a new purpose
Ohio and Pennsylvania became oil states.
New refining process produced kerosene, lubricants for machines, and gasoline
Patent-guarantee to protect an inventors rights