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William Kelly and Henry Bessemerdiscover a way to process iron ore into steel
Patented their strategy so nobody else can use it. -
Edwin Drakes strikes oil in Pennsylvania
First person to successfully drill for oil. -
National Labor Union organized
Brought together all all labor unions over the country. -
Joseph McCoy established a cattle trading station in Kansas
A stattion in Kansas for trading cattle among other farmers and users of cattle. -
Christopher Sholes invents the typewriter
Sholes's invention was patented on this day, and received two more patents after later improvements. -
Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads meet at Promontory Point, Utah
Creation of the First Transcontinental Railroad. -
George Westinghouse invents air brakes
This was a new braking system for vehicles utilized in this era. -
John D. Rockefeller creates Standard Oil in Ohio
Fonded Standard Oil of Ohio and it became the most profitable refiner in Ohio. -
Edison invents the phonograph
While trying to make improvements for thetelephone and telegraph, he made a machine that could record and playback. -
The Great Railroad Strike
Workers in West Virginia striked after a third wage cut,and would not allow trains to roll until this was revoked. -
Terrence Powderly becomes leader of the Knights of Labor
Powderly was a participant in the Knights of Labor, then became Secretary, then Head Master. -
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1882
Signaled congressional intent to improve waterways to benefit nation by promoting competition amongst transportation modes (particularly railroads). -
Samuel Gompers becomes leader of American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor was reorganized in 1886, and Gompers waselected as the first president. -
Haymarket Square Riot
The aftermath of a bombing that took place at a labor demonstration. -
Statue of Liberty unveiled
President Cleveland dedicated the statue, a gift from France, in New York Harbor -
Andrew Carnegie publishes the Gospel of Wealth
The Gospel of Wealth is an article written that describes the responsibility of philanthropy by the new upper class of self-made rich. -
Forest Reserve Act passed
The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 is a law that allowed the President of the United States to set aside forest reserves from the land in the public domain. -
Andrew Carnegie sells U.S. Steel to J.P. Morgan for $480 million
Sold for $480 million, $13.3 billion today. -
Standard Oil is dissolved
Standard Oil Co. is declared in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, so thecompany is forced to be broken up by the Supreme Court.
