Industrialization in America, though slow to start because of the Civil War, took off in the last half of the 19th century, so that by the year 1900 American steel production had outstripped that of the rest of the world by a wide margin. The United States had over 200,000 miles of railroads by 1914, about as many as the rest of the world put together. American farm products and manufactured goods were sent abroad in a growing American fleet of merchant marine vessels, and American travelers toured the globe in search of interesting spectacles.

The age of industrialization was also age of exploitation—of people, land, and resources—and while many benefited from the results, many also suffered. As industrialization and urbanization changed the face of America forever, those who took the time to look backward were astounded at how far the nation had come in just a few decades.

Instructional Resources

Industrial Revolution
Wheel of Learning Game
for Promethean Board