Vanderbilt: The Impact Of Technological Innovation

In the late nineteenth century there were many key technological developments the account for the American industrial growth. Technological developments were not the only thing that contributed to the rise of the American industry: raw materials, labor supply, entrepreneurs, federal government, and and an expanding domestic market. Although there were many contributing factors, technological development was one of the principal sources to industrial growth in the late-nineteenth century.

The Gilded Age was a time of American economic prowess thanks in large part to the influence of a few tycoons. However, some believe these tycoons were not the so-called “Titans of Industry,” but rather “Robber Barons.” J.P. Morgan, for example, is erroneously considered to be the latter due to his expansive sphere of influence. Nevertheless, J.P. Morgan is truly a “Titan of Industry.”

Automobiles. Telephones. Lightbulbs. These were some of the major technological innovations created during 1865 to 1920. These creations impacted many Americans, even to this day. The groups of people that were most changed by these new innovations were factory workers, middle-class urban residents, and midwestern farmers. There were many effects that these creations had on these groups of people. These innovations allowed travelling and the transporting of goods to be easily accomplished, made communication between others simpler and more efficient, and allowed for better and safer ways of lighting to be established.

The invention of the cotton gin decreased labor and increased the production of usable cotton and the demand for items being made from it. Advancements being made in both water and land transportation led to explosive growth in cities and factories; thus improving the national economy little by little. All in all, the revolution taking place in the Americas after the war of 1812 turned the nation into the successful, worldwide marketplace we know of

Using this profit he buys out every other refinery company all his rivals. At the age 33 he is the most powerful man in the country. Vanderbilt seeing this gets another railroad to pull all their contracts with rockefeller and make him pay more rates rockefeller seeing this finds out he can use pipelines for large distance transportation taking the railroads out of the business.

Industrialism had profound effects on American Society, Business Owners, Workers, Farmers, and Immigrants that reshaped American Society and were both positive and negative in nature.

The 1920s were considered an extremely prosperous and positive decade in history. The economy was relatively stable, and people’s lives were generally sound and enjoyable. One aspect that greatly contributed to the success of the “Roaring Twenties” was the modern and innovative inventions that were being created. These inventions allowed for various daily tasks to be completed in a much more efficient manner. New and improved communication related devices helped to connect Canadians nationwide. Advanced forms of transportation established links to other cities, provinces, and even countries. Personal and medical inventions helped to maintain the economical and physical wellbeing

The Industrial Revolution began in England in the 1700’s within the textile industry. The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes by using different machines. Before the Industrial Revolution people made different things by hand or simple tools. For example, people wove textiles by hand, and after the Industrial Revolution machines were used instead. The Industrial Revolution began in England because of many reasons.

During the 1920s, advertisement started to increase and expand. Many ideas and tactics were used to lure the attention of the consumers. After World War I, America started to grow with a stable and growing economy. This flourishment made many American's live out the 1920s in prosperity. This caused America to flourish with new inventions, for example the automobile, household machinery, television, etc. Even old inventions and ideas were improving, like the radio, movies, and the use of advertising. The radio, movies, driving, and buying the various new products became a part of the daily lives. These inventions created a sense of ease for daily lives in America in the 1920s. It made life, jobs, and experiences easier.

Since the creation of the U.S. two hundred and forty one years ago, one of the founding ideals of the nation is that any citizen should have the right to pursue their own dreams. For some the “American Dream” can be defined as the opportunity to gain success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie personify this concept completely, and although these men were hailed as “captains of industry,” they always hungered for more.

What do you think it would take to make our imprint on America? To end up in the history books, being studied by the the generations after, and then the generations after and so on. Just as John D. Rockefeller had done, because almost everything you do would not have been possible without his big business ways and his discoveries. He made his mark on America.

In a first hand interview with “Robber Baron” William H. Vanderbilt, when asked “... But don’t you run it (the railroads) for the public benefit?”, Vanderbilt replies saying “The public be damned. [...] I don’t take any stock in this silly nonsense about working for anybody’s good but our own” (Doc 1). These few statements demonstrate how Vanderbilt and many other wealthy business people thought of the average person. Any proclamations from this document are indisputable as they came directly from the mouth of Vanderbilt himself the Chicago Daily News. He continually alleges that they would have cut out

Technological advances in the area of medicine include new ways for giving and storing blood for transfusions, new treatments for infections, new techniques for treatment of burns, advances in prosthetics limbs and the development of ultrasound and x-ray technology. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zs3wpv4) Also, some of the non-medical technological advances include the development of synthetic rubber, industrial fertilizer, air traffic control, drones. (http://www.popularmechanics.com), Many of these technological advances slowly made their way to southwest Virginia and impacted our lives in many ways for years to

Imagine if one person controlled almost all of one type of product, that is exactly what Rockefeller did to the oil industry. A monopoly like this is nearly impossible to do today, which is why none of the titans today are anywhere close to how rich the four main titans Cornelius Vanderbilt, John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and JP Morgan were. These men changed the world as we know it progressing us more in the span of 30 years than we had done in the last hundred. These men had certain traits which made them who they were and in turn America the place it is today. The four main titans had three specific traits that made them who they are like being ambitious, taking risks, and being flexible these traits are important because they are essential in business and most everything else.

The invention of the passenger steam train railway resulted in many great things happening. Factories now had a cheap way to move goods and other things to whatever place. Many jobs were created as the railways needed people to make sure the railroads are good enough to work. People could now