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William Kelly and Henry Bessemer discover a way to process Iron ore into steel
This was a revoultionary invention and allowed for stronger supports such as bridges going from wooden to steel. Also, the industry for steel rose along with the economy. -
Edwin Drake strikes oil in Pennsylvania
Drake becomes the first person to strike oil in America. This is huge for American industry. -
National Labor Union Formed
The first labor union formed in America. Led by William Sylvis, the group sought to get better privliges for workers. -
Christopher Sholes Invents the Typewriter
This is a key event because it is a revolutionary device which allows people to write documents faster and the same idea is still used today. -
Joseph McCoy established a cattle trading station in Kansas
This is the first sign of a safe place to trade cattle and ended up becoming a booming industry in America. -
George Westinghouse invents the Air Breaks
Air breaks helped control the speed of automobiles. -
Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads meet at Promontory Point, Utah
On this day, the railroad was officially finished and the Presidents of both railroads met. This made the journey west much safer for travelers and was very significant. -
John D. Rockefeller creates Standard Oil in Ohio
Standard Oil was a major oil company in America. However, it would later be dissolved and be found guilty and a corrupt monopoly in a court case. -
Edison invents the phonograph
Thomas Edison creates the phonograph, this is a major event, we use phones in everyday life. -
The Great Railroad Strike
Was the first strike in America and lasted for about 45 days. This haulted commerce and led to economic drought in the US. 60,000 militia members were sent out by the government to get the rail-track back up and running. -
Terrence Powderly becomes the leader of the Knights of Labor
Terrence Powderly became the leader of the Knights of Labor, an organization meant to protect its members from employer relations. -
Samuel Gomper becomes leader of the American Federation of labor
This organization fought for the rights of lower class workers. -
Haymarket Square Riot
A labor protest in Chicago turned into a riot after soeone threw a bomb at the police. Eight were killed, others were convicted. -
The Statue of Liberty is Unveiled
The Statue of Liberty is unveiled. This was a gift from France for helping them after their revolution. -
Andrew Carnegie publishes "The Gospel of Wealth"
This book written by Carnegie is all about the self-made wealth phenomenon going on in that time period. It tells how we should redistribute the surplus of wealth. -
Forest Reserve Act
The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 is a law that allowed the President of the United States to set aside forest reserves from the land in the public domain. This act passed by the United States Congress under Benjamin Harrison's administration. -
Rivers and Harbors Acts Passed
The Act makes it a misdemeanor to discharge refuse matter of any kind into the navigable waters, or tributaries thereof, of the United States without a permit. -
Andrew Carnegie sells U.S. Steel to J.P. Morgan for $480 million
Andrew Carnegie sells U.S. Steel to J.P. Morgan for $480 million which is about 13.3 billion dollars today. -
Standard Oil is dissovled
The supreme court ruled that this company was an illegal monopoly and dissolved it.
