A Wide Ranging History Blog Including Poetry

After the American Civil War, many new industries emerged. These included petroleum refining, steel manufacturing, and electrical power. This age produced wealthy industrialists along with a flourishing middle class. Even the blue collar working class was expanded. Although, there were some that were unemployed for periods and received very low wages.

The expansion of the iron and steel industry served as a major component of the revolution. The annual production of steel in the United States multiplied by almost 8 from 1880 to 1900. The United States surpassed Great Britain in the production of iron and steel at the end of the 19th century. A major contributor to the expansion of the iron and steel industries was the increase in railroad mileage. The telephone, typewriter, linotype, phonograph, electric light, cash register, air brake, refrigerator car, and the automobile, started new industries and changed business practices.

An interesting part about the Industrial Revolution in the United States was how people who were born in mid-19th century saw major changes in their lives. Their source of light would go from candles, to kerosene lamps, and finally electric light bulbs. Transportation would go from walking and horse power to steam-powered locomotives, to electric trolley cars, to gasoline-powered automobiles. Third, a major migration to cities from rural areas occurred.

Many people came to cities for jobs to work in factories. Work life in the factories tended to be pretty dangerous and led to a host of labor movements. This included women’s rights and child labor laws.

Different regions of the United States experienced different roles in the revolution. The Eastern seaboard from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania was the most heavily industrialized areas. There was also major developments in the Great Lakes region and the South. Manufacturing in the Midwest focused mostly on manufacturing related to agriculture. The area of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio supported a large portion of the steel and iron industry. Textiles was the focus of the South.

This time was a major shift from a more agrarian past to a more industrialized future.