In the second half of the 19th century, America transformed itself into an industrial power, ready to assume a dominant position on the world scene in the 20th century. The development of industrialization and the consumer society brought about opportunities for many Americans as part of an ever-growing middle class, but also resulted in environmental and social degradation that we continue to deal with at the present time.

UXL's Development of the Industrial U.S. Reference Library: Almanac traces the influence of the British Industrial Revolution on America and other nations and discusses such potent forces as advances in transportation and communication, inventions that transformed manufacturing and agriculture, the growth of trade and much more.