USA HISTORY

WESTWARD EXPANSION INDUSTRIALIZATION URBANIZATION 1870 1900

AMERICAN INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE GILDED AGE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Who saw the potential value in the Bessemer Process in terms of mass producing steel?
A
JP Morgan
B
Andrew Carnegie
C
John D. Rockefeller
D
Teddy Roosevelt
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The American businessman Andrew Carnegie, during his business trips to England in the years following the Civil War, took special note of the Bessemer process. In 1872 Carnegie visited a plant in England which was using Bessemer’s method, and he realized the potential of producing the same quality of steel in America.

Detailed explanation-2: -Using the Bessemer process, Carnegie Steel was able to reduce the costs of steel railroad rails from $100 per ton to $50 per ton between 1873 and 1875. The price of steel continued to fall until Carnegie was selling rails for $18 per ton by the 1890s.

Detailed explanation-3: -Carnegie adopted a new process invented by Sir Henry Bessemer that allowed steel to be made from iron more efficiently and quickly. This lowered the cost for steel, expanding the market. While this Bessemer steel didn’t work for bridges or buildings, it worked well for railways.

Detailed explanation-4: -Henry Bessemer, Man of Steel Henry Bessemer invented the process that Carnegie used to produce steel. Visit this site to learn more about Bessemer and his achievements in many areas.

There is 1 question to complete.