Unit 6: Topic 5 - Technological Innovation Flashcards
How did industrialization change industry in the US?
Before industrialization, Americans made things to use themselves or sell locally and regionally.
During this period, Americans began mass-producing goods to sell globally.
What are examples of some of the new technological advancements in industry?
The Bessemer Process converted iron into a more durable and versatile steel. This new method allowed manufacturers to create a greater quantity and quality of steel for cheaper. It was especially used to build railroads.
The high-speed spindle, automatic looms, and electric sewing machines transformed the clothing industry, which made ready-made clothes for the masses for the first time in history.
Thomas Edison’s lightbulb was inaccessible to average Americans but was used to light parts of Manhattan, such as street lamps and business signs that fostered the growth of entertainment and leisure activities. The Westinghouse Electric Company developed a motor that could convert electricity into mechanical power, which freed factories from having to be located near water or coal.
What are examples of some of the new technological advancements in communication?
The railroad enabled a quick and easy means of transporting goods. Trans-continental railroads promoted a truly national market for sales by connecting the east and the west. This efficient transportation of goods led to increased mass production and consumption. The government helped build railroads by providing land to railroad companies. Multiple railroads were built after the civil war.
The Telegraph was created in 1844, but during this period, it multiplied significantly. It allowed for easier communications between long distances, including a trans-Atlantic cable that connected America to Europe. Connecting communications to these continents created an international market for goods such as coal, oil, steel, and grain.
Alexander Bell’s creation of the telephone furthered communication. He later founded the Bell Telephone Company, and by the end of 1880, there were over 50,000 telephones in use in America.
What natural resources were necessary for technological advancement?
Land was a necessity for building railroads. The federal government provided land grants and loan subsidies to railroad companies.
Coal was the first major energy source for industrialization, both in factories and locomotives. Eventually, oil surpassed coal as the main fuel of industry and later automobiles. The use of natural resources as a means of more efficient production created a boom in manufacturing.
