American Industry - History 1&2

1870-1900

Inventions create the need for more inventions.  After the Civil War, great factories full of machines sprung up.  In many ways the 2nd American Industrial Revolution improved life for people by making it easier to obtain inexpensive goods, travel quickly, and communicate efficiently.  Sadly, faster work had a steep price.  Children worked long hours, independent workers lost their jobs, people were housed in slums, and many workers were injured in the machinery with which they worked.

In Class Activities:

• Learned about the connection between Railroad, telegraph, telephone, and other inventions
• Built our own cup & string telephone
• Discussed the importance of coal
• Defined the word "revolution"
• Learned about the large gap between working class and elite
• Built our own clocks and discussed the changes in measuring time across long distances

Optional Lesson Extension Activities:

• Watch Crash Course History - Industrial Revolution
• Look at photographs of American child laborers (Parents: there is a great teaching resource to go along with these photos and documents)

Assignment:

• Read history cards #20-22
• Practice your timeline