The History of Oil and Gasoline

Gasoline was initially a byproduct of kerosene production, and had limited use due to instability before the internal combustion engine.

In the US during the 1800s, excess gasoline was frequently disposed of, often in rivers and fields.

The development of the internal combustion engine significantly increased the demand and usefulness of gasoline as a fuel.

Early gasoline was unstable and difficult to control in reactions, making it unusable as a fuel.

Oil was initially used for lubrication, before refining processes led to the creation of gasoline as a byproduct.

Bertha Benz's groundbreaking journey demonstrated the practicality of the first internal combustion engine vehicle, highlighting its need for gasoline.

The rise of gasoline fueled new markets for oil refining and distribution.

A key figure in establishing the oil industry in Persia and the Middle East, he ultimately formed British Petroleum.

American industrialist who founded Standard Oil, establishing a near-monopoly over oil refining in America.

Standard Oil's control over a vast majority of oil refining capacity highlighted the significant influence on oil production from the ground to the consumer.

The US government and courts forced Standard Oil to break into smaller companies in the 20th century, reducing its enormous control over the oil industry.

A type of engine that uses the explosion of fuel to generate power; gasoline powered engines were vastly superior in the 20th century.

Henry Ford's revolutionary car, made widely accessible due to assembly-line manufacturing.

A manufacturing process where workers perform specific tasks, increasing production speed and lowering the price of goods, like cars.

Increased demand for gasoline led to more exploration for oil in regions like Canada (Alberta), Texas/Oklahoma (USA), and the Middle East (crucial for global oil).

Gasoline became a vital resource during wartime, essential for tanks, ships, planes, and transportation. Its strategic value fueled conflicts.

Oil's importance in war made it a cause of conflict. Controlling oil supplies is often a key goal in international tensions.

Cars allowed people to live farther from their workplaces and cities driving suburban development.

A coordinated effort by the CIA and UK intelligence to overthrow the democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, replacing him with a pro-Western regime.

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, an intergovernmental organization of countries that collectively control a significant percentage of the world's oil production and exports.

A reduction in oil production and a subsequent increase in oil prices by OPEC nations in response to the Yom Kippur War, severely impacting Western economies.

A Canadian Crown corporation formed in the 1970s to manage Canada's oil resources. It was later partly privatized.

A government-owned company responsible for a specific industry or service, often established to manage resources or provide essential services within a country.

A major Canadian oil company that originated from Rockefeller's Standard Oil.

Environmental issues related to oil production, refining, transport, and use, including pollution, accidents, and land use.

The partial selling of government-owned Petro-Canada to private entities, a process undertaken by successive Canadian governments.