Thomas Edison was one of the most important inventors of this time. Known as the Wizard of Menlo Park, Edison patented over 100 inventions in his lifetime, such as the phonograph. However, the invention that had the most impact on American growth at this time was the light bulb. The light bulb revolutionized daily life in America. People now could do more, since they could work later. Although not everyone had access to electricity, this invention changed the way people lived.
Alexander Graham Bell was another important inventor of this time period. Before Bell, communication was very difficult. People either sent a telegram or mail, but there was nothing quite like the telephone. Bell's invention of the telephone allowed communication to be easy and helped people connect with friends, family, and business in a way that could not be done before.
One invention that benefited business organizations was the Bessemer process. The Bessemer process revolutionized steel making by making it possible to produce large quantities of steel at a low cost. Andrew Carnegie saw the way that the Bessemer process would make producing steel easier, and, using crafty methods, took over the steel industry by using this process. His control of the steel energy was one of the first monopolies and was the first business to use the method of horizontal consolidation. Carnegie changed the way that business was done in America.
Railroads also benefited business organizations. Trains made shipping products much easier. Many big businesses,