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The Coal Revolution
Steam Power:
James Watt's Steam Engine (1765): James Watt’s steam engine provided an inexpensive way to harness coal power to create steam, generating energy for machinery in textile factories. Steam power was soon used for steam-powered trains.
Water Transportation:
Steamships: Steamships revolutionized sailing by using coal to produce dependable energy, allowing ships and boats to travel upstream and on oceans without depending on wind power. Coaling stations at critical trade routes became essential refueling points.
Iron and Steel Production
Iron Production:
Coal and Iron: Coal powered the mass production of iron. The introduction of coke, a refined form of coal, enabled larger iron-producing furnaces.
Wrought Iron: In 1784, Henry Cort’s process for making workable wrought iron improved its use in transportation and industry.
Steel Production:
Bessemer Process (1856): The Bessemer Process, which involved blasting molten metal with air to remove impurities, allowed for the mass production of steel, making it a crucial material for industrial society.
The Second Industrial Revolution
Key Innovations:
Countries Involved: The United States, Great Britain, and Germany were central to the second industrial revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
New Developments: Innovations included steel, chemicals, precision machinery, and electronics.
Oil:
Commercial Oil Wells: The mid-1800s saw the first commercial oil wells. Kerosene, used for lighting and heaters, was the primary product.
Internal Combustion Engine: The development of the internal combustion engine led to advances in automobile and airplane technologies, making gasoline a crucial fuel.
Electricity:
Public Power Stations: The first public power station began production in London in 1882, leading to electrification, street lighting, and electric street trains.
Communications:
Telephone: Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876. Thomas Edison’s 1886 design improved its practicality.
Radio: Guglielmo Marconi's experiments led to the development of the radio, with the first transatlantic signal sent in 1901, revolutionizing mass communication.
Global Trade and Migration
Transportation and Communication:
Railroads and Steamships: These technologies, along with the telegraph, made exploration, development, and communication more efficient, linking global markets.
Transcontinental Railroad: Completed in 1869, it connected the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, facilitating U.S. industrial growth and efficient transport of natural resources.
Economic Impact:
Industrial Growth: Industrialized countries sought resources and markets, leading to increased colonization to secure access.
Interior Development: Railroads, steamships, and the telegraph opened up interior regions to exploration and development, increasing trade and migration.
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