Josh Rosenthal

45. Discuss three key technological innovations from the period 1865-1900. What was its role
and significance?
Exiting the Civil War, American's found themselves steadily creeping towards the Pacific Ocean.
With this westward migration came a new breed of American farmers as well as American's
simply looking to better their life. With this new virgin terrain, American's found themselves
facing challenges that they had never experienced before. These obstacles were overcame with
the use of technology. The role of technology was very significant in ways social, agricultural,
and industrial.
1. A new on slot of technology brought very large social change.
A. Railroads began to be made of Bessemer steel and the industry was quickly
monopolized.
1. William and Cornelius Vanderbilt monopolized the railroads.
2. Pools were used to destroy competing railroads.
B. New job opportunities brought with the construction of railways
1. Ten miles of track were added per day.
2. Irish "paddies" built railroads at a frantic pace for the Northern Pacific
Railroad and other large stretches of railroads
C. Railroads not only provided transportation for supplies, but also for people.
1. Pullman Cars were often thought as "gorgeous traveling hotels" but there
wooden structure often resulted in horrific accidents.
2. New innovations to current items brought large agricultural improvements.
A. The Iron plow allowed western farmers to prosper.
1. The plow allowed for the farmers to plow what was thought as "unplowable"
land.
B. One farming method that caused agricultural success was dry farming.
1. Although this method allowed success it would ultimately result in dust storms.
C. A necessity of water allowed for the creation of the windmill pump.
1. This invention utilized wind power to pump water from the ground. It was
especially helpful in areas of limited electricity.
3. Technological advances created large advances in American society.
A. The introduction of the factory system to American caused a change in the life of
women.
 1. The invention of the typewriter and telephone switchboard created many
social opportunities for women that were once unavailable.
2. A new independent and athletic image of women was created by magazines
such as the "Gibson Girl"
B. Dumbbell Tenements created dense living situations for urbanites.
1. Cramped living situations created piles of trash which bred disease carrying
rats.
2. Poor ventilation systems created "Lung Blocks", people who lived in these
dreaded areas were susceptible to bad air quality and poor lung health.
C. Growing urban population created a need for skyscrapers.
1. With open land filling up, engineers were challenged to create structures that
went upward in order to cope with the large influx of urban civilians.
2. Louis Sullivan, an architect, contributed formidably to the development of
skyscrapers by adhering to the motto of "form follows function".