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John D. Rockefeller founds Standard Oil
Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company and owned ninety five percent of the oil refining business by 1879. (1) After the first oil strike, Rockefeller invested his money in turning oil into kerosene. (Ibid)
(1) Corbett, section 18.2 -
Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone
The telephone was one of the greatest advancements during the eighteen seventies. Bell was the first person to create and make money from the telephone. He worked with financial advisors and created the National Bell Company. (1) (1) Corbett, section 18.1 -
Thomas Edison invents the light bulb
Thomas Edison discovered the light bulb which turned out to be one of the best inventions during this time. (1) This led to the Edison Electrical Illuminating Company which supplied electricity to customers in New York. (Ibid)
(1) Corbett, section 21.2 -
The Pullman Strike
The Pullman strike occurred in Pullman, Illinois after its factory fired two thousand employees and reduced wages for the remaining employees. (1) The workers were also starving as well as their families.(2) They ordered all Railroad Union Members to refuse to handle any train that had Pullman products on it. (3)
(1) Corbett, section 20.4
(2) Broken Spirits: Letters on the Pullman Strike, paragraph 1
(3) Corbett, section 20.4 -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
On March 25 1911, a fire broke out in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York. (1) This was significant to changes in businesses because it opened everyone's eyes to the harsh, unsanitary working conditions many factory workers endured during this time. (2)
(1) Corbett, section 21.2
(2) The Triangle Factory Fire, Chapter 5 -
1912 Presidential Election
President Wilson made a speech which was against big monopolies and encouraged all workers to receive minimum wage. (1) This changed how workers were treated and how businesses were run as wages increased and monopolies were given less power. (1) Hear Wilson's Speech "On Labor", paragraph 3 -
WWI
WWI changed businesses by how they were run. While the men went to war, women stayed home and ran the factories and the farms. Women made less wages then men, and working condition in the factories could at times, become unfavorable due to poor treatment. (1)
(1) Corbett, section 23.3 -
Prohibition passes
The eighteenth amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transport of liquors. (1) It did not outlaw consuming alcohol, but since transporting it was outlawed, this made it very difficult to consume. (Ibid) This effected businesses, as the sale of particular grains to make alcohol were effected, as well as businesses that sold alcohol. (Ibid) (1) Corbett, section 23.3 -
Henry Ford Sells Model T cars for $300.00
This was a huge change in business which led to car ownership being a possibility for Americans. (1) Ford used mass productions and perfected the assembly line which allowed him to lower prices, changing the business, and making it possible for many Americans to own vehicles. (Ibid)
(1) Corbett, section 24.1
