The Centennial was held to celebrate America’s 100th birthday. The celebration was referred to as an Exposition, and it was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the exposition 100s of new machines, inventions, and gadgets were on display. How would you feel if you walked into the Centennial Exposition and saw all those machines? Why?
Electricity played a big role during the Machine Age and was in hot demand. Thomas Edison invented many new machines that needed electricity. He invented the copy machine, phonograph, moving picture machine, and the incandescent light bulb. Now that we have electricity, especially the light bulb, places can stay open at night. If you were a worker during this time how would you feel about staying open and working through the night and why?
Railroads also played a massive role, but there were some problems with them as well. Clock times were a pain because people never really knew what the exact time was. When time zones were created they helped keep people on schedule so they wouldn’t be late for things, which was a huge benefit to the railroads. Width differences between tracks also caused a problem. When railroads consolidated it helped with this problem because railroad owners made all the tracks the same size by using the sames gauges to measure the tracks. Safety was the biggest problem of all. Air brakes were invented and steel rails were installed making railroads safer. How hard do you think your job would have been if you worked for the railroad during this time and why? Railroads also Impacted other industries. Steel mills increased in demand to build trains and lay tracks with Andrew Carnegie as the owner. The oil industry grew because it was shipped from place to place, John D. Rockefeller was the main owner. Would you rather be Andrew Carnegie or John D. Rockefeller? Explain.
Not all people prospered during the Machine Age. Farmers struggled because agricultural machines replaced hand labor. Skilled workers lost their jobs because factory machines made goods quicker and they could make a lot more. Who do you think had a tougher time during the Machine Age, the farmer or skilled worker? Explain.
John D. Rockefeller ran an oil refinery, which became very powerful. Rockefeller bought out smaller companies and he even had a secret deal with railroads to ship his oil to other places for half price. He eventually controlled the entire oil industry and created a monopoly. What would it be like to be a customer of Rockefeller and why?
If I walked into the Centennial Exposition I would feel great when I saw all of the machines. I would also feel great because life was about to become a whole lot easier. Some things I would have seen at the exposition include the first telephone, the Corliss Steam Engine, and some improvements to old inventions. If you lived during this time how would your life change because of the Centennial Exposition? Why? If you attended the Centennial Exposition what would you like to see? Explain.
ReplyDeleteIf I worked on the railroads at this time I think it would be pretty easy because we have many new inventions. Some new inventions are the refrigerated cart, dining cart, and better brakes. .
I would rather be John D. Rockefeller than Andrew Carnegie because Rockefeller made lot of money. Also Rockefeller had a monopoly, which is now a terrible crime. He also bought out many oil companies because his secret deal with the railroads made him a lot more money so he became rich. He was able to run a cheap oil companies and others went bankrupt.
I would not be a costumer of Rockefeller because I could be bankrupt. I hated Rockefeller because I was one of the people. So I went bankrupt.
DeleteIf I were working at this time and then Edison lightbulb came out I would be tired. But I would like it because you will get paid more. The more money I get paid the more money I will have.
ReplyDeleteIf I went to the first Centennial Exposition I would want to see the Corliss Steam Engine because it is really big and I would want to learn more about the Corliss Steam Engine. I can't believe it ran all the machines in the room!
ReplyDeleteTo be a costumer of Rockefeller would be good at first because the prices were low. when Rockefeller sold out all of the rest of the oil companies around you the prices started going up so it would of started to get annoying but it was either buy the stander oil for their vehicles or walk so it turned out good but got worse it was a bad deal.
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