History of Electricity and Innovators Quiz

The Rise of Industrial America, 1865-1900

• The World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, showcased impressive industrial advancements.
• Grover Cleveland, the Presidential candidate, opened the Exposition.
• The exposition demonstrated the progress of American industry over the previous 50 years.
• Major corporations displayed cutting-edge products like Westinghouse dynamos, the American Bell Telephone's long-distance calls and Edison's phonograph.
• The exposition attracted over 25 million visitors.
• The exhibition marked the peak of late 19th-century manufacturing innovation.
• The scale and grandeur of the exposition signified the United States' economic power and technological prowess.

Impact of Industrialization

• Industrialization dramatically transformed America's economy, with manufacturing output increasing five-fold in 50 years.
• The United States became one of the world's leading industrial powers, surpassing England, Germany, and France in output.
• Mass production of consumer goods, such as oil, steel, and other consumer products, was made possible by large corporations.
• Technological advancements in management, technology, production, and transportation were key factors in industrial growth.

Character of Industrial Change

• The exploitation of coal resources provided cheap energy for industrial expansion.
• Rapid technological advancement transformed transportation, communication, and factory systems.
• The demand for a large labor force, easily managed, grew rapidly alongside industrial growth.
• The consistent pressure on companies to reduce costs and eliminate rivals was pivotal.
• Significant decline in prices as opposed to inflation in previous eras was a prevalent feature of the time.
• The limited growth of the money supply contributed to the restricted availability of credit.

Rise of Corporate America

• In the 19th century, the corporate form of business organization became more prevalent.
• Business leaders pioneered new corporate organizational forms, combining technologies and management structures with limited liability provisions.
• This involved separating company managers from owners, enabling the raising of massive amounts of capital for business operations.
• Corporations used innovative technologies for large-scale manufacturing.
• Giant corporations dominated various sectors, significantly influencing economic processes and outcomes.

Application of Railroads to Steel

• Andrew Carnegie's career exemplifies the connections between railroad expansion and the growth of steel industries.
• Carnegie started as a bobbin boy in a Pittsburgh textile mill.
• He moved to telegraph operations and later to roles in railway management.
• Carnegie's investment in railroads led to sizable capital accumulation.
• He transitioned into steel manufacturing in the 1870s and dominated the industry.
• Carnegie's system for vertical integration in steel (controlling every stage from raw materials to sales of the finished product) became a prominent model for other industries.
• High productivity and reduced costs are credited to his techniques.

Specialized Production and Marketing

• In the 19th century, demand for diverse goods, such as machinery, jewelry, furniture and women's clothing, spurred economic growth.
• Smaller shops produced custom goods and specialized products at large scales.
• This form of production is differentiated from mass production by its focus on small-batch production and varied designs for distinct markets.
• Businesses started focusing on brand names, trademarks, guarantees, slogans, and testimonials in advertising to build demand.

Economic growth

• Large-scale corporations led to significant economic growth.
• New inventions and innovations in advertising and marketing played substantial roles in economic development.
• Small-scale enterprises that introduced innovative technology complemented mass production in various sectors.
• Innovation in business practices improved consumer goods and services, making them readily accessible.

The Trust

• Competition in industries such as oil led to new corporate organizations.
• Rockefeller formed the Standard Oil Trust, which integrated the entire petroleum industry vertically and horizontally.
• The trust controlled almost 90% of refining capacity by 1879.
• This model challenged the notions of competition and raised concerns about monopolies.

The Triumph of Technology

• Novel inventions expanded the manufacturing sector and consumer product lines.
• Innovations in electricity changed many aspects of daily life.
• Mass-produced household appliances and lighting systems led to the use of electric power in homes and businesses.
• These innovations altered the ways people worked, communicated, and entertained themselves.

Labor Unions and Industrial Conflict

• Workers organized in response to oppressive working conditions and demands for better wages and rights.
• The National Labor Union and the Knights of Labor were prominent 19th-century labor organizations aiming to unite skilled and unskilled workers.
• The American Federation of Labor (AFL) focused on practical gains and organized skilled workers, gaining considerable strength by the early 20th century.
• Industrial conflict, including strikes, often resulted in violence and government intervention to quell labor unrest.
• Strikes over wages, working hours, and other issues became commonplace.
• Employers utilized tactics like strike-breakers, yellow-dog contracts, and government intervention to curb worker movements.

The New South

• The South's industrialization lagged behind the North.
• The Civil War significantly hampered the South's economic development.
• The South faced challenges such as a lack of capital, illiteracy, and Northern control of financial markets and patents.
• The myth of the Lost Cause and traditional views of southern economy hindered industrial advancement.

Women and Work in Industrial America

• Women's roles and experiences in the workforce were influenced by class, marital status, and racial circumstances.
• Working-class single women entered factories for employment, in contrast to higher-class women who stayed at home.
• In industrial settings, women predominantly filled low-paying, subservient roles.
• The labor force comprised 17% women by the turn of the century.

Hard Work and the Gospel of Success

• Success narratives in the industrial period often emphasized self-discipline and individual effort.
• The notion of rags-to-riches was popularized and promoted entrepreneurship and exceptionalism.
• However, many industrialists achieved success through controversial business tactics.