Why was the US Able to Industrialize?

 

Natural Resources:

     raw materials

     fertile soil

     fast running streams (power source)

 

Supportive U.S. government:

     laissez-faire policy

     cheap land given or sold to railroads

     protective tariffs

     nationwide market and laws (no internal

           barriers)

 

Growing Population:

     5 million in 1800

     76 million in 1900

     provided workers and consumers of new

           products

 

New Power Sources:

     electricity

     oil

 

New Machinery (thanks to Samuel Slater)

American Inventors and Inventions:

     Thomas Edison

 

Improved Transportation:

     railroads

     Pullman: sleeping car

     Westinghouse: air brakes

 

Improved Communication:

     Morse: telegraph (telegraph companies

           merged into Western Union)

 

     Bell: telephone American Telegraph and

           Telephone formed (ATT)