The Second Industrial
Revolution
Michigan Standards
Unit Guide
6.1 Growth of an Industrial and Urban America
Explain the causes and consequences – both positive and negative – of the Industrial Revolution
and America’s growth from a predominantly agricultural, commercial, and rural nation to a
more industrial and urban nation between 1870 and 1930.
6.1.1 Factors in the American Industrial Revolution – Analyze the factors that enabled the United States to
become a major industrial power, including:
• gains from trade
• organizational “revolution” (corporations
& unions)
• advantages of physical geography
• immigration and migration
• economic polices of government
• technological advances
6.1.2 Labor’s Response to Industrial Growth – Evaluate the different responses of labor to industrial change
including:
• development of organized labor, including the Knights of
Labor, American Federation of Labor, and the United Mine
Workers
• southern and western farmers’ reactions, including the growth of populism and the populist movement
6.1.3 Urbanization – Analyze the changing urban and rural landscape by examining:
• the location and expansion of major urban centers
• the growth of cities linked by industry and trade
• the development of cities divided by race, ethnicity, class
• resulting tensions among and within groups
• different perspectives about urban immigrant experiences
Essential Question:
How did the Second Industrial Revolution impact and change the United States?
Big Picture - Focus Questions:
1. How did the United States become a major industrial power?
2. In what ways did labor respond to industrial growth?
3. In what ways did cities change as they grew in size and population?
Unit Reflection Questions:


What area do you think your generation might revolutionize?
How did we do as a nation in advancing towards our ideals during this era?
Learning Targets
You will be able to:
 Identify new industries that emerged at the end of the 1800’s and explain
why the Second Industrial Revolution was important for the U.S.
 Identify and explain the factors that enabled the U.S. to be transformed in the
Second Industrial Revolution.
 Identify major people and events of the Second Industrial Revolution.
 Explain the impact of the revolution on business, workers, immigrants and
the labor movement.
 Discuss labors response to the working conditions of the Second Industrial
Revolution.
 Identify and discuss the impact of the Second Industrial Revolution on
farmers and their response.
 Explain how mass marketing changed life in the United States.
 Identify and discuss role and impact of urbanization in the Second Industrial
Revolution.
 Identify and discuss the effects of the Second Industrial Revolution on the
United States.
 Compare and contrast the Second Industrial Revolution to today’s
Technological Revolution
 Discuss possible lessons learned from the Second Industrial Revolution we
need to learn and apply today.
Second Industrial Revolution Key Terms & People:
(You should be able to identify, use and explain the following key terms and people)
Bessemer process
John D. Rockefeller
blacklist
Edwin L. Drake
vertical integration
Samuel Gompers
wildcatter
horizontal integration
Eugene V. Debs
transcontinental railroad
Andrew Carnegie
mass transit
entrepreneur
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Wright Brothers
captitalism
Sherman Antitrust Act
telegraph
laissez-faire
sweatshop
Alexander Graham Bell
social Darwinism
Knights of Labor
Thomas Alva Edison
monopoly
xenophobia
AFL (American Federation
of Labor)
Life at the Turn of the Century Key Terms & People:
(You should be able to identify, use and explain the following key terms and people)
Ellis Island
Jane Addams
William McKinley
Angel Island
Social Gospel
National Grange
literacy test
settlement house
William Marcy Tweed
Populist Party
The Second Industrial Revolution
Resources for learning content:


Reading, Questions & Reviews: Textbook – American Anthem: Reconstruction to the
Present – Chapter 14, The Second Industrial Revolution, pages 458-485 and Chapter
15, Life at the Turn of the Century, pages 486-506 (sections 1-3). Answer keys are
available for Chapter 14 and 15 section reviews and chapter reviews in order to
formatively check your knowledge and understanding.
Lecture/Teaching: Educational Portal / History 104 – U.S. History II – There are 11
video teachings in this chapter—all can be found on the class website in the “Online
Teachings” tab. ***(Remember you must use my “Online Teachings” tab to be able to access
these teachings—you cannot select or advance teachings from the Education Portal site.)





Second Industrial Revolution PowerPoints: Chapter 14 & 15 PowerPoint are
available on the class website in the “Online Teachings” tab. There is also a “PP/Lec
Notes” worksheet available for the Chapter 14 PowerPoint to help you organize your
learning.
Classroom Study Groups: Students can choose to work with a group of students to
complete readings, reviews, etc.
Classroom Discussion Groups: Students can choose to work with a group of students
to discuss, evaluate and analyze unit content and concepts.
Edmodo Discussions: There will be a variety of discussions on Edmodo to help you
increase your understanding of unit content and concepts, BUT also feel free to start
own discussion topic about this unit.
ME—YOUR TEACHER: Don’t forget to ask me questions, both about The American
West or about strategies for learning; Especially if you need guidance setting up an
effective plan to learn the material.