Expansion of Industry

The three major factors that contributed to the immense technological boom that took place in the United States after the Civil War were a wealth in natural resources, government support of business, and a growing urban population that provided both cheap labor and markets for new products. When oil was first discovered it was not very important except for its use as kerosene. Not until after automobiles became widely used, because of the population that provided markets for new products, was it found to be vital. There were more natural resources other than oil. After the Bessemer process was found iron became very important in the manufacturing industry. Railroads became one of the major customers for steel. After the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, steel paved the road for innovative construction. Without the government's support and open market many of the inventions we have today might not have been made possible.