Flagship Academic - AP U.S. History (part of Advanced Placement)
After the Civil War, the U.S. experienced a boom in industry, technology, and urban life. Railroads, steel, and oil fueled growth, and inventors like Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell changed daily life.
Tycoons such as Rockefeller and Carnegie built enormous fortunes, but workers often faced long hours and dangerous conditions. Labor unions emerged to fight for better pay and safety.
Cities grew rapidly, drawing immigrants and rural Americans seeking opportunity. Skyscrapers and tenements defined the urban landscape.
Industrialization created wealth but also led to inequality, prompting calls for reform.
Formation of the American Federation of Labor
Growth of cities like Chicago and New York
Industrialization reshaped the U.S. economy, society, and cities—creating both progress and new problems.