Lesson 2: Economic Growth
How did new technologies, communication systems, and government policies generate rapid economic development and business consolidation?
New Technology (Bessemer Process)
New innovations like Andrew Carnegie's application of the Bessemer process scaled industries to new levels, paving the way for the rise of big business.
New Technology (Vulcanization)
In addition to the steel-making processes that scale larger than ever before through Carnegie's application of the Bessemer process, Charles Goodyear developed a process called vulcanization that made rubber much stronger.
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"Life in industrial America"
Class Discussion Questions
How did Chicago represent industrial America?
How did the era of industrialization transform American culture?
How did immigrant communities form and support themselves?
What was the “New South?”
How did the era of industrialization affect ideas about gender and sexuality?
Transcontinental Railroad
Read the short article about financing and construction of the transcontinental railroad. Answer the following questions.
What were the two companies and how did they differ in management and construction of the railroad?
Explain the underlying cause of the corruption involved in construction of the railroad.
Financing the Transcontinental Railroad.pdfMap Study
Read about the Pacific Railway Act, and make a map detailing the following.
Three transcontinental lines and completion dates.
Major cities along the routes (at least 3 each).
Rivers and mountain ranges (the big ones)
Who built the railroads? ... indicate on the map.
Map key, date, title
Railroad Map Study.pdfIncome Gap
How did the gap between the rich and the poor grow during this time?
Is it still a problem today? If so, to what extent?
Shared Drive
Open the shared drive folder for this activity and make a google doc. Rename it with your group members' initials.
Complete the activity --> business terms and document summaries (one sentence summaries).
Instead of an essay for Part B, make a T-chart to organize the benefits and harm to the economy.
Write a thesis statement in response to the question in Part B.
Monopolies Activity - APUSH.pdfFinish the graphic organizer. Include specific examples of each factor that contributed to an increase in production of goods. Also, write a short explanation about how the example contributed.
Skills Packet
"Causation: Second Industrial Revolution