Events with tag - Manufacturing

January 1, 1790

American Industrial Revolution

A transformative period from 1790 to 1914 that revolutionized American manufacturing, economy, and society through technological innovations, urbanization, and industrialization.

December 1, 1790

First American Cotton Mill

Samuel Slater establishes the first water-powered cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, marking the beginning of the American Industrial Revolution and transforming the nation's manufacturing landscape.

December 1, 1793

First Industrial Revolution in America

The First Industrial Revolution transformed America from manual production to mechanized manufacturing, beginning with Samuel Slater's water-powered textile mill in 1793. This period marked the nation's shift towards industrial power, establishing new manufacturing processes and economic systems.

January 1, 1813

America's First Factory Towns

The establishment of America's first planned industrial communities in Waltham (1813) and Lowell (1821), Massachusetts, revolutionized manufacturing by combining textile production with worker housing and social infrastructure.

August 12, 1851

Singer Sewing Machine Patent

Isaac Merritt Singer received U.S. Patent No. 8,294 for his revolutionary sewing machine design, featuring a vertical needle mechanism, presser foot, and shuttle system. This innovation transformed both industrial and domestic sewing, making machine sewing accessible worldwide.

January 1, 1865

Second Industrial Revolution

The Second Industrial Revolution (1865-1900) transformed America into a global industrial powerhouse through groundbreaking innovations in electricity, steel production, and manufacturing methods, led by visionaries like Edison, Carnegie, and Rockefeller.

January 1, 1870

American Steel Industry Boom

The dramatic expansion of the American steel industry from 1870 transformed the nation's economy through technological innovations, particularly the Bessemer process, leading to unprecedented industrial growth and the emergence of industrial giants like Andrew Carnegie.

January 1, 1879

First Commercial Use of Electricity in US Factories

In 1879, the Brush Electric Company made history by installing the first commercial electric arc lights in a Philadelphia brush factory, initiating the industrial electrification revolution in America. This groundbreaking installation set the stage for widespread adoption of electrical power in manufacturing.

December 1, 1913

Ford's First Moving Assembly Line

Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing by introducing the first moving assembly line at Highland Park plant in Michigan. This innovation reduced Model T production time from 12 to 2.5 hours and transformed industrial production worldwide.

June 25, 1938

Child Labor Reform in America

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 marked a pivotal moment in American labor history, establishing nationwide protections for child workers after decades of exploitation during the Industrial Revolution. This landmark legislation set minimum age requirements and work hour limitations, ending the era of widespread child labor in U.S. factories.

September 27, 1941

Liberty Ships: WWII Industrial Marvel

The Liberty Ship program, launched in 1941, represented one of America's greatest industrial achievements during World War II. These standardized cargo vessels, with the first ship SS Patrick Henry launching on September 27, 1941, revolutionized shipbuilding and became crucial to Allied victory.

December 7, 1941

Women in WWII Workforce

During World War II (1941-1945), millions of American women entered the workforce, taking up roles in factories, shipyards, and aviation plants. The female workforce grew by over 50%, with women making up to 65% of defense industry workers by 1943.

December 7, 1941

Women Enter US Workforce During WWII

Following the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, millions of American women entered the workforce to fill critical labor shortages as men joined the military. This unprecedented shift saw nearly 6 million women taking roles in defense industries, manufacturing plants, and government offices, fundamentally changing the American labor landscape.