Alexandra Vendrell
ECO 3201
Dr. Buechner
Fall 2014
Iron and Steel Industry in the United States
The Industrial Revolution was of great importance to the economic development of the
United States. During these times, the iron and steel industry in the United States boomed and it
became a time of rapid change in the world. The Industrial Revolution refers to a change during
the 18th century from hand and home production to machines and factories, it “changed people’s
way of life as well as their methods of manufacture.” (Hackett, 1992, 1) Iron was mostly used for
buildings, ships, and bridges but after the advancements made during the revolution,
manufacturers moved to the cheaper option; steel.
Americans had 3 main advantages during the Industrial Revolution, transportation,
workers, and natural resources. Power such as steam and electricity replaced human and animal
power. “The Second Industrial Revolution marked great progress in the methods of mass
production.” (Hackett, 1992, 17) The Industrial Revolution truly changed American society and
economy into a modern urban-industrial state with economic power because it is when many
important inventions and advancements were made.
Industrialization in America involved two important developments that made work easier
and cheaper. First, transportation was expanded, and second, improvements were made to
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accelerate production. Transportation, as well as river transportation, were great advantages to
the development of industry because the railroads basically connected raw materials to the
factories and markets, and they opened up the West. As an example of river transportation, the
Erie Canal helped create New York City into a great trading center. Railroads were a major
advantage because thanks to the Civil War, they already linked the most important Mid West
cities with the Atlantic Coast, and they became a major importance to the increase in trade
throughout the Industrial Revolution. (Rosenberg, 2014, 5-7)
Producing and operating the new machines, including the steam engine, required large
quantities of iron and coal. The development of the steam engine was a main improvement made
to accelerate production. In 1698, Thomas Savery constructed a steam driven pump to remove
water from flooded coalmines. In the early 1700s, Thomas Newcomen developed a safer steam-
