Industrial Expansion and Innovations

Edwin L. Drake was an American engineer who successfully drilled the first oil well in 1859, marking the birth of the petroleum industry and making large-scale oil extraction possible.

The Bessemer process was the first efficient industrial process for mass-producing steel from molten iron. It made steel cheaper and stronger, leading to its widespread use.

Thomas Edison, an American inventor, was famous for developing the light bulb and a system for generating and distributing electricity. His inventions revolutionized life and work.

Christopher Sholes was an American inventor best known for creating the first practical typewriter in 1868. This invention transformed communication by making writing faster and more efficient.

Alexander Graham Bell was an inventor best known for inventing the telephone in 1876, which revolutionized communication by enabling people to talk across distances.

The Bessemer process enabled the mass production of high-quality steel at a lower cost, making it readily available for use in various industries.

Steel was widely used in the building of railroads, which played a vital role in national transportation, and in the construction of farm machines, which increased agricultural efficiency.

Electricity changed people's lives by transforming factory work patterns and allowing factories to be located in areas with access to electricity, rather than solely relying on water power.

The process where more people move to cities, often due to factories and jobs.

Set of actions in the late 1800s and early 1900s to help immigrants become American.

Crowded, poorly built apartment buildings for low-income residents, especially immigrants.

Public transportation systems like buses, subways, and streetcars that help move many people in cities.

A religious movement that used Christian beliefs to help social problems like poverty and inequality.

Community centers that provided services like education and help to the poor, especially immigrants in cities.

The co-founder of Hull House, one of the most famous settlement houses, who worked to improve the lives of immigrants.

A law passed in 1882 that stopped Chinese people from immigrating to the US.

An agreement in 1907 that limited Japanese immigration to the US.

Negative feelings towards immigrants, often leading to discrimination.

A network of railroads built in the 1860s, connecting the eastern and western United States, which helped to move goods, people, and resources more efficiently. It also helped unify the nation after the Civil War.

An American industrialist known for designing and manufacturing luxury sleeping cars for trains, making rail travel more comfortable and luxurious.

A construction company created in the 1860s by Union Pacific Railroad executives to build the Transcontinental Railroad, but infamous for its corrupt practices and overcharging the government.

A landmark Supreme Court case that dealt with government regulation of businesses, specifically the railroad and grain elevator industries, but didn't fully curb the railroads' power.

A federal law from 1887 that regulated the railroad industry, aiming to prevent unfair practices like discriminatory pricing and ensure the public was informed about fees.

A system developed in the 19th century to standardize time across different regions, dividing the United States into four time zones for better train scheduling and safety.

A business strategy where a company controls all steps of production, from raw materials to the finished product, aiming for efficiency and cost reduction.

Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American industrialist, expanded the steel industry in the US, making him one of the richest men of his time.

The growth of railroads caused different regions of the nation to become known for specialized industries and products.

One positive effect of railroad growth was the development of cities, but farmers faced unfair treatment and pricing by railroad companies.

Farmers fought the railroads because of unfair and discriminatory pricing practices. Railroads often charged high fees for transporting crops and favored large businesses.

Railroad employees faced long hours, dangerous conditions, low wages, and little job security. They also lived in company towns with controlled housing and strict rules.

Living in Pullman was highly regulated, with company-owned housing and strict rules governing residents' lives. It was a model town, but with limited freedom.

Crédit Mobilier was created by high-ranking officials of the Union Pacific Railroad, including Thomas C. Durant, to oversee the construction of the transcontinental railroad, but it became known for fraudulent activities.

Railroad companies hurt farmers by charging them high and unfair rates for transporting crops, discriminating against them compared to big businesses. They also used rate pooling to keep prices high.

The Munn v. Illinois ruling didn't fully limit the power of railroads as it primarily focused on grain elevators, not railroads themselves. It wasn't enough to effectively regulate the railroads.

The Interstate Commerce Act didn't immediately curb railroad power due to weak enforcement, limited authority, and railroads finding ways to bypass regulations. It took more legal battles and legislation to have a real impact.

A strategy in which a company expands its control over the same type of business by acquiring or merging with its competitors, reducing competition in the market.

A theory that applied Charles Darwin’s principles of natural selection to society, suggesting that individuals or groups who are most fit (wealthy/successful) would naturally rise to the top, while those less fit (poor/unsuccessful) would fail.

A market structure in which a single company or group controls an entire industry, limiting competition and often leading to higher prices.

A company created to buy and hold the shares of other companies, giving it control over those companies without having to manage them directly.

A business arrangement where several companies combine to limit competition and set prices. It is often used to describe large-scale business combinations that dominate a particular market.

An American industrialist and co-founder of the Standard Oil Company, which became one of the largest monopolies in the world. He revolutionized the oil industry and became one of the richest men in history.

An 1890 U.S. law aimed at preventing monopolies and promoting competition by making it illegal to restrain trade or attempt to establish monopolies.

Leader of the AFL, an important labor leader who advocated for better working conditions, wages, and hours for workers.

A labor union founded in 1886 that focused on improving wages, working hours, and conditions for skilled workers.

A labor leader and socialist who was one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and ran for president of the US five times as the candidate of the socialist party.

A radical labor union founded in 1905 that sought to unite all workers, including unskilled workers, to fight for workers' rights and improve working conditions across industries.

Also known as “Mother Jones,” she was an activist and labor organizer who worked to improve working conditions, particularly in the coal mines, and advocated for child labor laws and workers’ rights.

He implemented innovative production techniques and acquired control over every aspect of the steel manufacturing process. He built and expanded steel mills and focused on increasing efficiency, which helped him dominate the market.

Located in New York Harbor, Ellis Island was the primary immigration station for immigrants arriving on the East Coast of the United States from 1892 to 1954. It processed millions of immigrants, many of whom were from Europe.

Angel Island was an immigration station located in San Francisco Bay, serving primarily Asian immigrants, especially Chinese, from 1910 to 1940. It was often referred to as the “Ellis Island of the West,” but the conditions there were harsher, and many immigrants were detained for longer periods.

This is a term used to describe societies where various ethnic and cultural groups assimilate into a larger, common culture.

The belief that favors the interests of people born in America (or native-born) or the established inhabitants rather than the interests of immigrants. This belief leads to the marginalization of immigrants and hostility, often resulting in discriminatory laws and practices.

Primarily during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the immigrants mostly came from southern and eastern Europe. Countries include, Italy, Poland, Russia, and Greece. A significant number also came from China and Japan, especially on the West Coast.

They formed communities of people from their same countries and ethnicities, allowing them to preserve their culture, language, and traditions while still being able to adapt to the American life.