Rise of Industrial America
Andrew Merritt
Andrew Carnegie
What: Led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry.
Where: Carnegie co-founded his first steel company, near Pittsburgh.
When: In the late 19th century. About 1870.
Why: Because he was one of the richest and one of the most powerful people in the world.
Citation: Andrew Carnegie. History.com. Feb. 5, 2014. Www.history.com
Thomas Alva Edison
What: Invented over 1,000 things. Including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb.
Where: In Menlo Park, New York, and West Orange, New Jersey.
When: 1868 to about 1830.
Why: To make the US a more advanced country.
Citation: Thomas Alva Edison Biography. Edison.rutgers.edu. Feb. 10, 2014. http://edison.rutgers.edu/biogrphy.htm.
Sweatshops
What: Extreme exploitation, including the absence of a living wage or long work hours,
Poor working conditions, such as health and safety hazards,
Arbitrary discipline, such as verbal or physical abuse, or
Fear and intimidation when they speak out, organize, or attempt to form a union.
Where: All over the country.
When: During the 19th century.
Why: Because it was cheap labor.
Citation: Creating a sweat free world. Laborrights.org. Feb. 10, 2014. http://www.laborrights.org/creating-a-sweatfree-world/sweatshops.
Central Pacific
What: Helped create the first railroad.
Where: From the east coast to the west coast.
When: On May 10, 1869.
Why: So the US could transport stuff quicker.
Citation: Fabion, Sharon. The Transcontinental Railroad. Moodle.com. Feb 11, 2014. http://classroom.iascschools.org/moodle/mod/book/view.php?id=4215