The Industrial Revolution changed the course of American history, accelerated the American economy, and affected the way people lived. This ready-reference encyclopedia offers in-depth coverage of the economic, political, and social developments of the Industrial Revolution in the United States from 1750 to 1920. More than 200 substantial entries cover key individuals--among them entrepreneurs, inventors, captains of industry, and robber barons--significant technologies, inventions, court cases, companies, political institutions, economic events, and legislation. Highlights of the work include numerous entries on developments in water and rail transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, mass production, the labor movement, big government, and the key inventions that changed the American economy. Entries on the social implications of the Industrial Revolution will help students to understand how the Industrial Revolution affected the social fabric of the nation.

Each entry is placed in economic, political or social context to show how it contributed to the great changes that were occurring in the United States, such as how the development of new technologies altered agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and even patterns of immigration. Each entry is followed by a short list of suggested reading for further study. A comprehensive, engagingly written introduction traces the history of the Industrial Revolution in the United States. A timeline of important events in the history of the Industrial Revolution in the United States and a topically organized bibliography are important research aids. More than fifty historical illustrations and photos enliven the text. This curriculum-related reference work will supplement the American history course and is ideal for student research.