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Bessemer Process
In this year, the Bessemer process was invented by Henry Bessemer in England. It involved blowing air through liquid pig iron in order to get all of the impurities out, creating steel. Other inventors of the time added on to the process to make it more advanced, like William Kelly, whoconducted many experiments, and Alexander L. Holly, who built the first successful steel plant. The Bessemer Process allowed steel to be mass-produced at a low cost, which improved building and railroads. -
Edwin Drake strikes oil
Edwin Drake was extremely persistent in his work. He and his men drilled all summer, working 6 days a week. When Drake finally struck oil on August 28th, 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, the world had a new energy source. Oil changed industry and the lives of many, starting in the industrial revolution. Although some oil did exist prior to Drake's discovery, there had never been enough for wide spread distribution. Now, oil was accessible to all, which improved economy tremendously. -
The Transcontinental Railroad is Completed
On this day, there was a ceremony held at Promontory, Utah, which celebrated the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. prior to the railroad completion, the country seemed divided. It would take up to 4 months to travel from the East to the West or vise versa. However, now the railroda made it easierr for poeple to travel from coast to coast, and in a way, the railroda united the country. Overall, the transcontinental railroad was extremely influential on the Industrial Revolution. -
The Credit Mobilier Scandal
The Credit Mobilier Scandal took place from 1872-1873. Credit Mobilier of America was formed by stockholders in the Union Pacific Railroad, The company gave these stockholders contracts to build a railroad, which proved to be extremely lucrative for the these stockholders. Although it should have been illegal at the time, it was not, but a representative from Maine called for an investigation of the company. The scandal showed how far some poeple would go to make a profit. -
Alexander Graham Bell Invents the Telephone
In this year, Alexander Graham Bell invented the "electrical speech machine", or the telepone. Before his invention, people during the Industrial Revolution were only able to communicate through sending letters, and this would often take weeks. However, now businesses in Boston, for example, could communicate directly and efficiently with other business in Massachusetts. Graham Bell's innovation was very influential, and it paved the road for a network of communications and technologies. -
The Munn Versus Illinois Case
In Illinois, the government regulated the prices that grain elevators were allowed to charge their customers. Although this stautute pleased the local grange, the businessmen at the grain elevators were very displeased. They stated that the Illinois staute violated Congress' right to regulate commerce, as well as violatded the 14th ammendment. This new outlook on economic freedom slightly changed the viewpoint of the Supreme Court through the first quarter of the 20th century. -
Christopher Sholes Invents the Typewriter
In this year, Crhistopher Sholes finalized his invention, the type writer, by adding a shift key to the keyboard. The typewriter had a very large influence on the industrial Revolution, mainly in business. Businesses now had a way to record and document things, and they were able to stay more organized. A far more modern version of Sholes's invention, the computer, is used today and it is still used in business and many other fields. -
John D. Rockefeller Creates the Standard Oil Trust
John D. Rockefeller was the owner of an extremely lucrative oil company, which gained power through dominating almost every aspect of the business. He was essentially the reason for the Sherman Antitrust Act, becasue of his unethical way of gaining money and power, when he created the Standard Oil Trust in 1882. When Rockefeller retired from the oil business, he devoted the remainder of his life to philanthropy, where he donated money to the public. -
Thomas Edison Tests the first Large-Scale Electric Light System
Fact or fiction: Thomas Edison invented the first light bulb? Fiction. Prior to Edisn, light bulbs had already been made and tested, yet they would flicker and quickly die down. Thomas Edison invented the first light that would last for hours and hours, and this maximized productivity during the Industrial Revolution. Thomas Edison incorporated what he knew about electric lighting and created a system of electric lighting. On September 4, 1882, this system was used to light 25 buildings. -
Haymarket Square Riot
On this day in Chicago, Illinois, a demonstration ok over 1,500 workers took place. The workers were demanding only an eight hour work day. When the police came to break up the demostration, an unidentified protestor launched a bomb at the police, killing 7 police officers. The officers then broke out shooting, killing 4 others, and 8 men were accused for leading the riot. The riot emphasized the importance of having labor unions in business. -
The Interstate Commerce Act is Passed
In this year, Congress paseed the Interstate Commerce Act, largely due to public demand. The Act was primarily directed toward the railroad industry, and it put the industry under government regulation. Prior to the stockholders corrupted the unregulate railroad industry by setting up monopolies. During the Industrial Revolution, the act contradicted laissez-faire economics, by giving Congress control of the railroad industry. It also paved the road for future ocuments. -
The Sherman Antitrust Act is Signed
On this day, the Sherman Anti Trust ACt, written by Republican Senator John Sherman from Ohio, was signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison. The law was created in order to protect the consumer from large businesses who were unfairly raising the prices of their products. The law also set limits on business monopolies, as well as prevented businesses from setting limits on trade. During the Industrial Revolution, this act helped to prevent consumers from being cheated by big companies. -
The Homestead Strike
The Homestead Strike put the biggest business at the time, Carnegie Steel Company, against the largest union at the time, the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers. WHen the union wanted larger wages, the struck against the Carnegies Steel company. However, the manager of the company hired 300 Pinkerton soldiers, who ended up fighting against the union workers, killing and wounding several. Overall, the strike proved weakness in unionism until the 1930's. -
Eugene Debs and Labor Unions
Eugene Debs was a very influential man in labor unions, In the year 1893, he became presiden of the American Railway Union, and in April of 1894, he led his union in a strike against the Great American Railroad for higher wages. Later, in 1985, he was sentenced to 6 months in prison for leadin the Chicago Pullman Palace Car Company Strike, Debs fought to emphasize the importance of these labor unions and ensuring those union workers fair rights. -
The Pullman Strike
The strike began, when the negotiations for the wages for the Pullman Palace Car Company factory workers failed, and the workers had a walkout. Later that year, those workers declared that they would not work on trains with Pullman cars, which eventually became a hindrance in the railroad industry. The government finally got involved and sent out soldiers to end the strike. The pullman strike emphasized the need for unions, as well as the importance of government involvement in industry. -
J.P. Morgan Saves the American Economy
J.P. Morgan was very successful banker, who helped get the United States out of financial trouble. When President Grover Clevland's efforts to rescue the Anerican economy failed in 1895, Morgan stepped in to help. he essentially created a bridge between the European and American economies. Today, his economy is seen as momentous, and he has gone down as one of the most influential bankers ever. -
Mother Jones Helps the Miners
From the beginning, Mary Harris was very involved in industry. She was very open to African American workers, and she encouraged women and children to participate in strikes. In June of 1897, she gained her nickname of Mother Jones. Later that summer, when she went to help thousands of miners in a strike, she was thought of as a mother by millions of men and women due to her efforts to help the miners. Overall, Mother Jones was a major proponent of unionism during th Industrial Revolution. -
The Wright Brothers Fly over Kitty Hawk
On this flight, Wilber and Orville Wright flew in their own Wright Flyer over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Their flight marked the very first machine to sustain flight with a pilot on board. The achievemnt was very influential, and it was used for commercial, economic, and military uses. Prior to this new innovation, transportation of people and goods could only be done through automobiles, animals, and the railroad. Planes were now a far faster, more efficient mean on transportation. -
Lochner Versus New York Decision
In the case, New York had set regulations for working hours and other limitations in the baking industry. The case went to court when Lochner was arrested fror violating the law. However, the court ruled in favor of Lochner, saying that the right to buy and sell labor was a right protected in the 14th ammendment, so the government had no right to regulate it. The ruling of this court case emphasized the right for businesses to regulate labor and other aspects of their own business. -
Henry Ford Creates the Model T
During this year, Henry Ford's Model T had its first debut. Henry Ford di not invent the car, although many belive he did. He actually created the first affordable, accessible car for the average American. During the Industrial Revolution. only well-off, wealthy people could afford a car at the time. However, prior to Henry Ford's innvoation, the luxury of a car was available to everyone. Along with the model T, came the innovation of the assembly line, which has revolutionized business.
