Why American Industry Boom

After the Civil War came to an end, America still heavily relied upon an agricultural economy since the Union did not have enough industry to redefine their economic system. However, this would soon change, as many life changing discoveries would be made. These included Thomas Edison’s’ invention of the lightbulb and electricity in 1880, steel and the Bessemer process in 1850, and the value of oil from Edwin L. Drake in 1859. All three of these creations together would redefine American society, as many technological advancements were made within different aspects of society, which will ultimately allow American industry to boom. One of the most important advancements that were made, was the creation of the railroad system. After the discovery of steel, it was now …show more content…
This not only attracted more people to the United States, but many new cities were opening up and becoming wealthy as industries began to spread. One of the best examples would have to be Chicago and Minneapolis, as the railroad system allowed them become known for their grain and stockyard industries. Plus, with all these industries spread throughout the country, they could trade with eachother, increasing interstate commerce which made the federal government very happy. Technological development within transportation systems was the not the only aspect that helped American industry boom, as the discovery of electricity allowed businesses to run longer and more efficiently. Before Thomas Edison was around, many factories and businesses were forced to be near a water source that was used to keep very simple machines operating throughout the day. However, electrical systems gave many industries the opportunities to spread out and utilize much more complicated machinery. These included printing presses, fans, street cars, and much