Chapter 18 Review

Question 1

What conditions spurred the growth of industry as the nation expanded westward?

Answer 1

Government policies, new technology, and new sources of energy

Government policies helped business grow, new technology allowed railroads and cities to expand, and new sources of energy supplied industry needs.

Question 2

What technology made steel the main building material of American cities and industries?

Answer 2

The Bessemer process

The Bessemer process was a method to make stronger steel at a low cost.

Question 3

How did the government support business?

Answer 3

Land grants, subsidies, and high tariffs

The government gave generous land grants and other subsidies to railroads and other businesses, while keeping high tariffs on imports.

Question 4

What was ‘black gold’ and how did it get that name?

Answer 4

Oil; it was extremely valuable, similar to gold

Black gold was a nickname for oil because it was so valuable for the industrialization of machinery.

Question 5

Why was Thomas Edison’s power plant important?

Answer 5

It provided reliable energy for homes and factories

Edison’s power plant powered homes, city streetcars, and enabled factories to replace steam engines with safer electric ones.

Question 6

Why did the cost of automobiles decrease after 1913?

Answer 6

Introduction of the assembly line by Henry Ford

The assembly line sliced production time in half, allowing lower production costs and prices.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: The invention considered most important to modern life is _______.

Answer 7

Thomas Edison’s electrical power plant

Edison’s electrical power plant is crucial because other inventions rely on a reliable source of energy.

Question 8

True or False: The electrical power plant was essential for the development of other inventions like light bulbs and the phonograph.

Answer 8

True

The electrical power plant started the modern age of electricity, making other inventions possible.