America Emerging into The "Gilded Age"

Throughout these time periods, america began to emerge into the “Gilded Age”. During this period america began to realize that world was starting to emerge more into an industrial nation. This started to happen after the civil war.

Technology fostered change in united states in a large extent because new things came in like transportation, telegraphs, phones and way more. Technology had created more job opportunities, more women even started working. By 1800s the American railroad system started, people did not believe that train technology would work. Before the railroad system had begun people used to use river steamboats to get where they needed to. Everyone started to like the railroads , it became the best form of land transportation in the U.S.. Transportation began to expand, soon enough trains were being used in mid 1820’s. The first transcontinental railroad was done being built by May 1869. Cities and towns had developed major waterways and coasts, in order to be able to develop economically, small cities had to build linked railroads. Railroads had also helped industries, farmers had new ways transport wheats and grains, trains had special containers for milk and meat to be able to stay cold for long distance rides.

By the early 1900’s, cities had grown, electric street cars became a way of transportation, but mostly the rich people had them. The bessemer process was the one who made the first inexpensive process, for the production of steel. The bessemer process also improved condition of steel and reduced prices by 80%. The railroads were the biggest buyers for steel. Farm machines had helped plains become the most important food producers. William was the first to design the skyscraper made out of steel. Stainless steel was also invented steel cobles. By 1880 american producers were using this method to be able to produce more than 90% of nations steel. Christopher had invented the first typewriter in 1867, it changed many things.

The telephone was first announced by Alexander Bell and Thomas Watson in 1876. Both the typewriter and the telephone created many job opportunities for women but also affected some others jobs. Women made up atleast 5% of all office work by 1870, by early 1900’s they made up to 40% of it so technology did make a big change. Electricity also became a became a big thing in the late 1800s. Edison was the one to invent the first light bulb in 1880. By the 1890’s electric power ran most of the machines. Electric street cars made traveling cheap. Throughout the late 1800s monopolies existed all through united states. The most powerful monopoly was the oil company. Citizens and most governments opposed monopolies. The government utilized legislation through late 1800s-1900s.