Glossary
Alexander Graham Bell
A Scottish-born American inventor who is widely credited with inventing the first practical telephone.
Example:
Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone in 1876 transformed personal and business communication.
Alternating Current (AC)
An electrical current that periodically reverses direction, making it highly efficient for long-distance power transmission.
Example:
The 'War of the Currents' saw George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla championing Alternating Current (AC) over Edison's direct current for widespread power distribution.
Andrew Carnegie
A Scottish-American industrialist who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century.
Example:
Andrew Carnegie became one of the wealthiest men in America by mastering the steel industry and implementing efficient production methods like the Bessemer Process.
Bessemer Process
A revolutionary industrial process for mass-producing steel from molten pig iron, making steel production much more efficient and cheaper.
Example:
The Bessemer Process allowed for the rapid and inexpensive production of steel, which was vital for building railroads, bridges, and skyscrapers.
Big Business
Large-scale corporate enterprises that emerged during the late 19th century, characterized by vast capital, extensive operations, and often monopolistic practices.
Example:
The rise of Big Business, exemplified by companies like Standard Oil and Carnegie Steel, led to both unprecedented wealth and concerns about corporate power.
Cyrus Field
An American businessman and financier who led the effort to lay the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable.
Example:
Cyrus Field faced numerous failures and immense challenges before finally succeeding in connecting the continents with the Transatlantic Cable.
Electric Elevator
A device that uses electric power to lift and lower people or goods, enabling the construction of taller buildings.
Example:
The invention of the electric elevator made skyscrapers practical, transforming urban skylines and allowing for denser city populations.
General Electric
A major American multinational conglomerate formed from the merger of Edison's electric company and others, becoming a leader in the electrical industry.
Example:
The success of alternating current led to the formation of General Electric, a company that would become a powerhouse in the burgeoning electrical industry.
George Westinghouse
An American entrepreneur and engineer who championed alternating current (AC) for electricity distribution and founded the Westinghouse Electric Company.
Example:
George Westinghouse's advocacy for AC power was crucial in establishing the modern electrical grid, allowing electricity to be transmitted over long distances.
Growing Labor Force
An increasing number of available workers, often due to population growth, immigration, or migration from rural to urban areas.
Example:
The influx of immigrants from Europe provided a growing labor force that was essential for staffing the burgeoning factories of the late 19th century.
Industrialization
The process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods, driven by technological innovation.
Example:
The period from 1865 to 1898 saw rapid industrialization in the United States, transforming it into a global economic power.
Internal Combustion Engine
An engine that generates power by burning fuel inside the engine itself, widely used in automobiles and other forms of transportation.
Example:
The development of the internal combustion engine paved the way for the invention of the automobile, fundamentally changing personal travel.
Labor Movement
The organized effort by workers to improve their wages, working conditions, and rights through collective action, often forming unions.
Example:
Facing dangerous conditions and low pay, factory workers began to organize, leading to the rise of the Labor Movement and calls for reforms.
Lightbulb
An invention by Thomas Edison that produced practical, long-lasting electric illumination, transforming daily life and work.
Example:
The widespread adoption of the lightbulb extended working hours into the night and made streets safer, profoundly impacting urban life.
Natural Resources
Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.
Example:
The vast deposits of coal and iron in the United States were crucial natural resources that fueled its rapid industrial growth.
Nikola Tesla
A Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.
Example:
Nikola Tesla's groundbreaking work on AC motors and power transmission was fundamental to the widespread adoption of electricity.
Retail Industry
The sector of the economy involved in selling goods directly to consumers, which saw significant growth with the rise of department stores and mail-order catalogs.
Example:
The expansion of the retail industry through innovations like department stores made a wider variety of goods accessible to the average consumer.
Samuel F.B. Morse
The American inventor credited with developing the electric telegraph and Morse code in the 1830s and 1840s.
Example:
Samuel F.B. Morse's invention revolutionized communication, making it possible to transmit information almost instantly across continents.
Standard Oil
A powerful and influential oil company founded by John D. Rockefeller, known for its use of trusts and monopolies to dominate the petroleum industry.
Example:
Through aggressive business tactics, Standard Oil gained near-total control over the oil refining industry in the late 19th century.
Technological Innovations
New inventions and processes that drive economic and societal change, often leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
Example:
The development of the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution dramatically changed manufacturing and transportation.
Telegraph
An invention by Samuel F.B. Morse that allowed for rapid long-distance communication using electrical signals and Morse code.
Example:
Before telephones, the telegraph was the fastest way to send messages across vast distances, crucial for business and military operations.
Telephone
An invention by Alexander Graham Bell that allowed for direct voice communication over long distances.
Example:
The telephone quickly became indispensable for businesses and personal communication, replacing the need for telegraph messages for many interactions.
Thomas Edison
A prolific American inventor and businessman who developed many devices, including the practical incandescent light bulb and the phonograph.
Example:
Thomas Edison's invention factory at Menlo Park produced numerous innovations that reshaped American society and industry.
Transatlantic Cable
An undersea telegraph cable laid across the Atlantic Ocean, enabling instant communication between North America and Europe.
Example:
The successful laying of the Transatlantic Cable by Cyrus Field in 1866 dramatically reduced communication time between the U.S. and Europe from weeks to minutes.
Transportation Revolution
A period of significant advancements in methods of moving goods and people, such as the widespread adoption of railroads and steamships.
Example:
The expansion of railroads across the continent was a key part of the Transportation Revolution, making it easier and faster to ship raw materials and finished products.
Urbanization
The rapid growth and expansion of cities, typically driven by industrialization and the movement of people from rural areas seeking employment.
Example:
As factories offered more jobs, millions moved to cities, leading to significant urbanization and the rise of metropolises like Chicago.
Vertical Integration
A business strategy where a company controls every stage of its production process, from raw materials to distribution.
Example:
Andrew Carnegie's steel company practiced vertical integration by owning iron mines, coal fields, railroads, and steel mills, controlling the entire supply chain.