From the bestselling author of The Trillion Dollar Meltdown and The Tycoons comes the fascinating, panoramic story of the rise of American industry between the War of 1812 and the Civil War

This eleventh edition was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time and it is considered to be a landmark encyclopaedia for scholarship and literary style.

World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolu­tion, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wear­able sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manu­facturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individu­als. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frame­works that advance progress.

All About America: The Industrial Revolution by Hilarie N. Staton Be part of history in action! Travel back in time to the most exciting and inspiring periods in American history. Action-packed and historically accurate, All About America covers the most important periods in the history of a burgeoning nation, from Colonists and Independence to The Civil War, and from Cowboys and the Wild West to the early inhabitants, the Native Americans. With detailed reconstructions and original artwork from each period, find yourself immersed in the incredible action, as you confront the redcoats, catch gold fever, journey West, and ride the trails, your trusty lasso at your side.

An impressive set of books on the Industrial Revolution, these comprehensive volumes cover the history of steam shipping, iron and steel production, and railroads--three interrelated enterprises that helped shift the Industrial Revolution into overdrive. The first set of volumes in ABC-CLIO's breakthrough Industrial Revolution in America series features separate histories of three closely related industries whose maturation fueled the Industrial Revolution in the United States during the late 19th and 20th centuries, fundamentally changing the way Americans lived their lives. With this set, students will learn how the steamship--the first great American contribution to the world's technology--helped turn the nation's waterways into a forerunner of our superhighways; how the Andrew Carnegie-led American steel industry surpassed its British rivals, marking a momentous power shift among industrialized nations; and how the railroads, spurred by some of the United States's most dynamic entrepreneurs (Cornelius Vanderbilt, John Pierpont Morgan, Jay Gould), moved from a single transcontinental link to become the most influential and far-reaching technological innovation of the Industrial Age, extending into virtually every facet of American culture and commerce. Sidebars--many featuring primary documents--include topics such as Mark Twain's days as a river pilot, Andrew Carnegie's libraries, and the impact of railroads on immigration, giving students fascinating insights into key issues and figures Includes in-depth biographical profiles and a comprehensive index of people, places, and key terms for easy access to information on specific topics

The Industrial Revolution that began in Great Britain in the mid-seventeenth century transformed the British economy—and later the economies of Western Europ and the U.S.—from a rural, agricultral system into an industrial society, centered around the factory system of mass production and specialized labor. the right mix of social, political and legal conditions in Britain at the time led to the discovery of labor. The right mix of social, political and legal conditions in Britain at the time led to the discovery of fresh sources of power and energy, and to advances in agriculture, manufacturing, communication and transportation. Notable results included the steam engine, which made possible everything from textile factories to railroads, and, later in the U.S., the cotton gin, electric light, and automobiles. This comprehensive volume explores all these events and more, including the aftermath of the Revolution—its spread beyond Britain and the U.S. to Asia and throughout the world, allowing for a higher standard of living while challenging that standard with increased pollution and health problems, a widened economic and social class gap, and a weakening of traditional family structure. Biographical sketches of key figures, a chronology of events, primary document excerpts from the period, and a print and nonprint source bibliography supplement the work.