The Rise of American Industry Growth in industry is led by: a growth in technology Between 1790 and 1860 U.S. Patent Office issued: 36,000 patents (That’s 514 patents/year) Between 1860 and 1890, the U.S. Patent Office issued: 500,000 patents That equals: 16,667 patents /year 45.6 patents/day
New Technology Timeline 1858: Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company sends: Edwin L. Drake to attempt to drill and pump oil out of the ground. Cheaper! Before- people had to wait for oil to come to the surface Struck oil in 1859 Led to: a new age in technology due a new energy source
New Technology Timeline 1876: Thomas Edison becomes known as: The Wizard of Menlo Park Builds his own: ‘invention factory’ Plan: Create a major invention every 6 months and a minor invention weekly Wanted to create: affordable in home lighting Needed to find: a longer lasting filament
New Technology Timeline 1882: Edison financed a test: run of New York City. In 1883, it becomes the first city ever to have lights at night! 1890: Power stations were set up: all across the United States leading to a new age of industry
New Technology Timeline Other Electrical Developments Lewis Latimer: develops an even longer lasting filament George Westinghouse: develops alternating current. Edison’s light bulb was based on direct current. Edison argued it was: not as safe as direct current. However it: was cheaper and could travel further distances so that is what the country began to use.
Other Innovations Telegraph Patented by: Samuel Morse Works off: of suspension of electrical impulses By 1900: 69 million telegraph messages are being sent every year
Other Innovations Telephone Patented by: Alexander Graham Bell Called: the talking telegraph 1878: Bell finances a test run of 21 telephones in Connecticut 1879: 1st telephone is installed in the White House Bell symbolizes another immigrant success story By 1900: 1.5 million telephones are in use (shows how technology overlaps!!!)
Other Innovations Completion of: the Transcontinental Railroad 1869: Union Pacific and Central Pacific join at Promontory Point, UT Safety and efficiency innovations led to: greater use Created the need for: time zones Refrigerated railcars led to: the expansion of the food industry. What railroads brought to industry: Expanded: markets Faster and more: communication Cheaper, making: goods cheaper
Other Innovations Bessemer Process 1856: Henry Bessemer develops a faster and cheaper way of making steel Made the: mass production of steel possible Led to: a new age of building Led to: skyscrapers and the Brooklyn Bridge The largest bridge attempted at this time: in the entire world Completed in: 1883 Same time as NYC was: also the first city with lights at night.