What were the main factors that led to the rise of industrialization in the U.S. in the late 1800s?

In the late 1800s, technology began to advance at a faster rate than it had ever done in the past. In a span of 30 years, beginning in 1960, over 500,000 patents were issued for inventions mainly involving new forms of energy. Electricity and lighting changed the way that Americans worked and allowed a boom in industrial production.

Steel production improved due to technological advances too. This led to improvements in transportation when railroads and bridges could more easily be built. With these improvements in transportation came more opportunities for industry to grow, as supplies could more readily be delivered and products shipped. Communication improvements brought about with all of the inventions of the era, such as the telephone, improved the way that industries operated.

All of these technological advances changed the way that American industry did business. From small, family owned businesses, American industry began to quickly transform in the late 1800s. Industries grew into large, national companies.

Lastly, industrialization benefited when more immigrants began to arrive in this time period, providing a cheap labor force that assured the large industries had a plentiful workforce.