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Our Pennsylvania Story
L E S S ON 2 6
Get ToKnowMe
1. revolution 2. industry 3. products
4. services
5. factories
Pennsylvania and the
Industrial Revolution
What is an Industrial Revolution? You already know
revolution
from the American
Revolution. Remember, wewon our freedom as a country. A revolution is a big change in
theway things are done.
Now, what is
industry
? Industry is themaking, moving, and selling of
products
, or
goods. Industry also involves all of the
services
that are provided to us. People need food,
water, clothing, and homes to live. Peoplewant cell phones, DVD players, and TVs for
fun.
Tomeet these needs andwants, peoplemake things. Theymake cars. They build
houses. They grow food. They build cell phones. They create toys. All of these things are
called goods, or products. These products sometimes aremoved to stores. That is where
we buy certain products.
Let’s take chocolate candy as an example. There aremany kinds of chocolate candy
made inHershey, Pennsylvania. After the candy ismade, it ismoved into stores. Then it
is sold. Themaking, moving, and selling of chocolate candy is called industry. This is true
for any product.
After youwere born, you slowly grew and
developed. Many years ago, our statewas born.
Most people farmed the land. They raised nearly
all the food for their families. Over time, our
state grewmuch like you have. More people
came to our state. More people created greater
need for goods and services.
About the time of the Civil War, most things
weremade by hand in the home. This way of life
began to change. People began to placemachines
in large buildings called
factories
. Many factories
were built tomake things people needed and
wanted. In fact, our state grew somuch, it became
an industrial giant!
A computer is something people
want. It is not a need.
