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Carnegie Family moves to America
Andrew Carnegie and his family moved to the United States in 1848 from Ireland. This is important because Carnegie began his life very poor which made his rise to wealth more inspirational. It gave other immigrants hope that they could come to America and make it big like Carnegie did. This prospect is also known as the "American Dream" -
Railroad Production Begins
The government began issuing grants to railroad companies to create railroads to connect the major cities in the country. It also features a railroad that would go coast to coast. The railroad would provide many jobs for citizens of the United States and it allowed large cities to spring up at railroad junctions throughout the country. -
Vanderbilt Improves Railroads
Vanderbilt takes his knowledge of steel and uses it to imporove the railroad tracks that were previously made of iron. Steel was mcuh lighter, it was easy to make and it rusted much slower than iron did. Vanderbilt made a living in the steam boat industry before he changed over to the steam engine industry. He and other railroad "bosses" were sometimes more powerful than government officials. -
National Labor Union Founded
The National Labor Union was formed in 1866 as a way for the working man to stand up to the big business bosses. This was the first big union to form. The National Labor Union fought for 8 hour days and more reasonable wages. The Union was made up of unskilled, skilled, and farmers. It seldomly included women and blacks. They got little accomplished but they provided a solid base that future Unions could build off. -
Knights of Labor Founded
The Knights of Labor was founded years later. This was more successful in gaining rights for laborers of the time but still had limiting effects. The Union started off very well and had 700,000 6 years after the Union began. However, the Knights of Labor's reputation was tarnished in 1886 following several violent strikes by railroad workers that were in the Union. -
Rockefeller Forms United Oil Company
The first oil drain was performed in 1859. John Rockefeller was a young man and witnesssed how much profit could be made off of this. For this reason Rockefeller began using oil to produce kerosene and got rid of the compoonent gasoline. The kerosene was used to fuel lamps, Rockefeller was able to produce oil fairly cheaply thus making a nice profit. Rockefeller's United Oil Company was worth 1 million dollars shorrly after Rockefeller entered the profession. -
Carnegie Launches his Steel Business
Andrew Carnegie launched his business in 1875. His business was named J. Edgar Thompson after the owner of his business customer the New York railroad. Carnegie took methods of steel production and created steel making factories in Pittsburgh. He turned steel from an import of the United States to a major export and money-maker for the country. -
Bell Invents the Telephone
At age 29, Alexander Graham Bell inventred the telephone. He and another man both had the same idea but Bell was able to get a patent for his inventioin first so he was given the credit. Bell also invented the microphone which he used to help him create the telephone. Only 8 years after it was invented, people were using it in Connecticut and talking to people in New York. This was very important because the telephone is still used today. This was the most famous of his inventions. -
Edison invents Light Bulb
Thomas Edison utilizes electricity to create the first light bulbs. Edison's bulbs brought an end to the kerosene lamps which could be potentially dangerous. This hurt Rockefeller's oil industry but not much because at one point Rockefeller was supplying 95% of the world's oil. Edison's light bulb paved the way for future electronics. -
Strikes Occur More Frequently
The huge business bosses were beginning to have more power than government officials and could do basically whatever they wanted becuase most of the industries had monopolies over the consumers. Consumers needed these items so they had to pay whatever the bosses wanted. For this reason, the government could do nothing to help the wages and terrible conditions the workers faced during this itme period. The terrible conditions led to strikes and refusals to work by the laborers. -
Edison Supplies Electricity to NYC
With financial help from J P Morgan, Edison was able to supply 85 citizens of NYC with electric bulbs. The bulbs were a success and it lead to future electronics. This event was important because J P Morgan gave Edison a loan and it started the practice of giving loans and starting stocks in hope that the business will grow. -
Time Zones Created
Four time zones were created in 1883 to help avoid confusion on the railroads. They were made to assist in trading and railway times. Indiana began in the Central Time Zone but we are in the Eastern Time Zone now. This was important becuase it set up something we still use today. -
American Federation of Labor Founded
The American Federation of Labor was formed in 1886 following the Knights of Laboring dissolivng the same year. The American Federation of Labor fought for "skilled workers". They were led by Samuel Gompers. They fought for higher wages and better working conditions. Because of strikes and what the Union did, most of the time they demands of the workers were met by the bosses. This was the first limit on the big business bosses power. -
Statue of Liberty Erected
The Staute of Liberty is on an island off the coast of New York.. It was chosen to be here because as new immigrants came to America, this was one of the first things that was seen. The Statue was a universal sign of Libertry and a welcome to other immigrants. The statue was a gift from France. It is now one of the most visited sights in America. -
Interstate Commerce Act
The Interstate Commerce Act was created to limit the power of huge business moguls. The huge business owners did not have to pay as much for things as other people did. The Interstate Commerce Act was pushed through congress by angry middle class citizens. They had less money but had to pay more for things. The act stated that if a business was going to change its prices, it had to give ten days warning. Also it made businesses post their prices. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
One of the few things the government did to limit the power of the big business bosses. The Anti-trust Act banned business from creating trusts with other businesses to create a monopoly. Businesses were creating trusts with other big businesses in their field of work. This was allowing them to all mark up the prices and demand more money for the products. This led to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. -
Ellis Island Opens
Most European immigrants that came into the United States did so by coming through Ellis Island. Ellis Island is located in upper New York Bay. Most Americans today can trace their ancestry in some way or another back to Ellis Island. There is now a museum dedicated to the old European immigrants and the ancestry of the people now living in the United States. -
Labor Day Becomes a National Holiday
Labor Day was made a National Holiday in 1894. Workers who faced unfair wages celebrated it before it was made a natioal holiday and just took a day without pay. Labor Day was made a National Holiday to please the everyday workers who faced unfavorable conditions. -
US Ranks 1st in Manufacturing in the World
With the help of Morgan, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Rockefeller, and other huge business moguls, America was able to become the number one manufacturer in the World. This was a much needed boost to the economy. Steel and oil were two of the new major exports the country could rely on. This was extremely significant because only 30 years earlier our nation was involved in the Civil War. -
J P Morgan Buys Carnegie's Bussiness
In 1900, J P Morgan bought out Andrew Carnegie for 400 million dollars. After he bought out Carnegie's steel business, Morgan established the United States Steel Corporation. The 400 million dollars made him the richest man of the time. After Carnegie sold his business he was able to reitre. He then devoted his life to philanthropy. He donated over 350 million dollars to charities and communities around Pittsburgh, where his steel industry was located.
