Expansion of Industry

What were the three major factors that contributed to the immense technological boom that took place in the United States after the Civil War? Explain how two of these factors helped to bring about this technological boom.

The three major factors that contributed to the technological boom were natural resources, creative ideas, and growing markets. For natural resources, Patillo Higgins found oil at Spindletop, Texas. Natural resources like oil and steel fueled the technological boom because inventions were made from them. For instance, oil was distilled into kerosene, which was used for oil lamps. Soon after gasoline was used for automobiles. the second reason technology was greatly expanded was from creative ideas. Natural resources can't do much in their original state; so creative minds helped shape inventions from the raw material. For example, the steel made it possible to build great structures such as the Brooklyn Bridge. Also, railroads and transportation were greatly expanded because of the Bessemer steel process.