Explore how American industry expanded in a defining era, from steel rails to mighty ships and sugar refineries.
This nonfiction survey traces the late 19th‑century surge in U.S. manufacturing, outlining the forces that shaped production, location, and technology. It highlights how new processes, large centers, and ambitious projects altered the economic map of the nation and set the pace for modern industry.
- Learn how steel moved from iron to rails and ships, driven by new methods and cost gains.
- See why Chicago, Minneapolis, Duluth, Omaha, and Kansas City rose as key manufacturing hubs.
- Understand the growth of sugar refining, the rise of the Sugar Trust, and the beet sugar industry.
- Discover how industrial centers organized around raw materials, transportation, and power, shaping jobs and regional development.
Ideal for readers of economic history and industrial development, this edition offers a clear view of how American industries took shape and spread across the country.