1. Chicago Becomes Trade Nexus

2. Illinois and Michigan Canal 100 miles separated Illinois River from Lake Michigan Thousands of Irish Immigrants worked on canal 1836 – 1848 Ended in Bridgeport and connected with Chicago River Quickly filled with filth – City streets had to be raised for new sewage drain system

4. Railroads in Chicago 1848 – Galena and Chicago Railway By 1852 – Chicago had 5 lines By 1856 – 10 lines Chicago becomes railroad hub of COUNTRY. Connects prairie to cities 1858 Map of US RR

5. McCormick’s Revolution Agricultural production – largely unchanged for 5,000 years McCormick’s reaper allowed farmers the ability to harvest 15 acres a day. Won gold medal at 1851 London Exposition. Producing thousands annually by 1850s. Largest employer in Chicago during mid 19 th Century.

6. Chicago Stockyards 1865 – 1971 Millions of pigs and cattle passed through annually. Swift and Armour Developed key efficiencies in business production “The Jungle” – 1906 – Upton Sinclair “Bubbly Creek”

7. Union Stockyards

9. Mail Order Catalogs Montgomery Ward Sears Roebuck Developed advertising as essential business tool. Begins 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward (single page catalog. By 1900, over 20,000 goods being sold in each catalog Sears was largest company in the world