The 1870s were a time of rapid change and
invention. A huge fair, the
Centennial Exhibition,
was held in Philadelphia in 1876 to celebrate our
nation’s 100 years of independence and also to
show these innovations. Themessage was clear
that America was looking forward to its future.
More than 10million Americans visited the
Centennial Exhibition.
Themain attraction at the Centennial Exhibition
was the Hall of Machinery, where all of the
machinery was run by one huge steamengine. One
curious invention was Alexander GrahamBell’s
telephone, which we learned about in Lesson 18. In
addition, for fifty cents, a visitor could write a letter
on amachine called a typewriter.
At theWomen’s Building, women were seen
operating all kinds of machinery. Women operated a
printing press, printingmaterial demanding equal
rights withmen. In those days women could not vote
and did not receive the same pay that men received
for doing the same kind of work.
Emerging into the Twentieth
Century
We have learned that our economic systemof
an open, competitivemarket fueled the Industrial
Revolution during the latter 60 years of the 1800s.
Conditions had to be just right for this to occur.
Pennsylvania has been truly blessed with natural
and human resources for this revolution into the
Age of Big Business. Growth of industry and cities
continued into the twentieth century.
The Industrial Revolution affected every aspect
of society. During this time, a tremendous shift from
small-scalemanufacturing to large-scale, factory-
basedmanufacturing occurred. This shift created a
need for factory workers to be closer to their jobs.
Thousands of workersmoved to Pennsylvania cities
fromall over the world creating, crowded living
conditions. The plight of mine and factory workers
slowly improved as the twentieth century arrived.
When amore efficient technology or idea
emerged to produce and/or move people, goods
and services, it replaced an older less efficient
method. Thus, Conestoga wagons were replaced by
canals, and canals were replaced by steamboats
and steam locomotives. That’s business, and that’s
the way our economic systemworks.
As we proceed intoModern Pennsylvania in
Lesson 22, all of these economic themes are
evident in our state’s continued growth and
development.
L
ET
’
S
R
EVIEW
1.What kind of market is created when a
community’s stores are owned by the factory
or mine owner?
2.Why was coal mining such a dangerous job?
3.Why were unions organized?
4.What was the underlying cause of the Great
Railroad Strike?
5. Identify three sources fromwhich people
flowed into Pennsylvania’s communities.
6. Identify at least three effects of the rapid
growth of industrial cities.
7.What was themain purpose of the
Centennial Exhibition?
8.What caused the Johnstown Tragedy?
9. Froman economic viewpoint, what did
Henry Heinz, JohnWanamaker, and
FrankWoolworth have in common?
Industrial Growth CreatesMajor Problems
97
The Centennial Exhibition, held in Philadelphia in 1876, was
the first world’s fair held in theUnited States.More than 10
million people visited the exhibition, which showcased our
country’s innovation in industry and science.
