Industrial Revolution SE.US Uses events and documents from history to develop and support a point of view regarding American identity and culture. SE.US Summarizes the eras, epochs, and turning points in United States History, the American Revolution, Civil War, reconstruction period, twentieth century wars, the Great Depression, the New Deal, etc.

A Change in the Culture The first half of the 19 th Century most Americans were farmers or shopkeepers. In the second half of the 19 th Century as new industries grew, more people began to work in factories.

Working Conditions Factories were hot, sweaty, unpleasant locations. Children worked in many factories. Working conditions were often unsafe. The conditions brought about the rise of labor unions.

Andrew Carnegie Began a business that built iron bridges. Found an inexpensive method of converting iron into steel.

Carnegie Castle What wealth will buy you

Monopolies Began Carnegie bought mining and railroad companies and combined them into one large corporation. He tried to eliminate competition by purchasing other oil refining companies. Became known as monopolies since they had little or no competition.

Edwin Drake Drilled the first oil well near Titusville, Pennsylvania. Oil became known as “Black Gold” People flocked to Titusville to try and strike it rich.

John D. Rockefeller Founded the Standard Oil Company of Ohio. Purpose was to refine crude petroleum into usable oil Standard Oil became the most powerful company in the oil business

Rockefeller’s Legacy Rockefeller Center New York City Rockefeller Center Skating Rink

Early Oil Companies Refined kerosene for lamps Later produced gasoline to be used in cars.

Corporations Following the Civil War, companies were growing. These large companies became corporations. They were owned by many investors. Investors would buy stock in the corporation and earn money from their investments.

Fortune Makers Cornelius Vanderbilt and James J. Hill made fortunes by building and running railroads. Railroads were important for many industries, especially the meat-packing industry. Cornelius VanderbiltJames J. Hill

Inventions Many inventions changed people’s lives during this period.

Thomas Edison Electric light bulb Phonograph

Alexander Graham Bell Telephone

George Eastman Kodak Camera

Henry Ford Gasoline-powered engines Ford Cars.