The TECH that Made Industrialization Possible [APUSH Review]

The video introduces the rapid industrialization of the United States as a major theme, significantly increasing the nation's GDP and altering employer-worker relationships. This growth was driven by increased manufacturing efficiency due to new technologies and methods, coupled with a rising advertising industry. This period is referred to as 'Industrialization 2.0', building on the market revolution.

Jell-O is used as an example of a mass-produced good made possible by industrialization. It illustrates how waste products from industrial food production (like animal tendons and bones) could be profitably transformed into new products. Marketing and advertising played a crucial role in its growth.

The expansion of railroads was a key technological innovation. Issues like differing rail gauges were solved by adopting a standard gauge, leading to economic integration. The standardization of time zones across the continent improved efficiency, and the Bessemer process for stronger steel improved the quality and durability of railroads, facilitating nationwide transport of goods and raw materials.

The telegraph, initially introduced by Samuel Morse, saw extensive expansion across the US. A significant development was the transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866, connecting the US to Europe and enabling almost instant communication across the ocean. This created an international market for basic goods and was further enhanced by the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.

Thomas Edison's innovations, especially the incandescent light bulb and the adoption of electricity, revolutionized business. Light bulbs allowed work to continue after dark, significantly increasing productivity in homes, factories, and businesses. Edison's opening of the first central electricity generator in New York City in 1882 provided a more reliable power source than previous methods like steam or water power.

Increased access to natural resources, particularly coal and oil from the western United States, was crucial. The availability of coal led industries to convert from water power to more reliable steam power. Large deposits of petroleum spurred new industries, producing more efficient lubricants for machinery and kerosene (a byproduct of petroleum refinement) to replace whale oil and wood as a heat source.