Big Business and the West Time Line

  • Bell patents telephone

    Bell patents telephone
    Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone. This invention revolutionized the way people communicate with one another.
  • First oil well is drilled in Pennsylvania

    First oil well is drilled in Pennsylvania
    George Bissell and Edwin L. Drake made the first successful use of a drilling rig on a well drilled especially to produce oil.This was at a site on Oil Creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania.
  • Transcontinental railroad is completed

    Transcontinental railroad is completed
    A golden spike was driven in Utah signaling the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.
  • First telephone on White House

    First telephone on White House
    President Rutherford B. Hayes has the White House's first telephone installed in the mansion s telegraph room.
  • Edison perfects incandescent light bulb

    Edison perfects incandescent light bulb
    In November 1879, Edison filed a patent for an electric lamp with a carbon filament.
  • Railroads set up standard time zones

    Railroads set up standard time zones
    the new railroad lines needed a new time plan that would offer a uniform train schedule for departures and arrivals. Four standard time zones for the continental United States were introduced
  • First electric trolley line, Richmond, VA

    First electric trolley line, Richmond, VA
    This was the first practical electric trolley system which set the pattern for trolley systems around the world. It is an IEEE milestone in engineering.
  • Sherman Antitrust Act is passed

    Sherman Antitrust Act is passed
    The first Federal act that outlawed monopolistic business practices. This was also the first measure passed by the U.S. Congress to prohibit trusts.
  • Carnegie Steel Company is formed

    Carnegie Steel Company is formed
    The company formed in 1892 and was subsequently sold in 1901 in one of the largest ever business transactions of the early 20th century.
  • J.P. Morgan forms U.S. Steel

    J.P. Morgan forms U.S. Steel
    J. P. Morgan and attorney Elbert H. Gary founded U.S. Steel by combining Andrew Carnegie's Carnegie Steel Company with Gary's Federal Steel Company
  • Rockefeller founds Standard Oil

    Rockefeller founds Standard Oil
    Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil Company. This ruled it was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Then, John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil with some other business partners.