John D. Rockefeller

  • Virginia Military Institute is founded in Lexington Virginia

  • George H Bissell forms Penn. Rock Oil Company and buys land in Western Penn, where they find oil.

  • Edwin L. Drake hired by Bissell to drill for oil in Titusville Penn. where 8-10 gallons a day turned into thousands a day. The "oil mania" began.

  • First US newspaper was printed in Boston

  • Lincoln signs national curency act

  • 1st war time military concription Bill enacted

  • 1st Military draft

  • Cleveland becomes major oil refining center.

  • Stock market crashes and sets off a six year economic downturn.

  • Standard Oil sells inexpensive lamps and oil to fill them in China and around the world.

  • Standard Oil trust created with 42 certificate or stockholders.

  • Anti-Monopoly sentiment grows across the US

  • Sherman Antitrust act passed, outlawing trusts and "combinations in restraint of trade".

  • Electricity begins to replace kerosene

  • President McKinley assassinated and Theodore Roosevelt, opposed to trusts, becomes president.

  • Federal Government brings lawsuit to Sandard Oil company.

  • Ohio Surpreme court dissolves Standard Oil Trust and seperates 38 different companies. Rockefeller also gives up title of Standard Oil President