Final answer:
The Bessemer steel process revolutionized the production of strong and durable steel at lower costs, facilitating the expansion of railroads and industrialization, which were instrumental in America's westward expansion and overall economic growth in the late 19th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of the Bessemer steel process had a profound effect on westward expansion in the United States during the 19th century. This process, named after English inventor Henry Bessemer, allowed for the production of large quantities of strong and durable steel at much lower costs compared to previous methods. As a result, the material became broadly accessible and highly sought after for various applications, notably in construction and infrastructure.
Railroad development was especially influenced by the affordable availability of steel produced through the Bessemer process. Steel railroads became the backbone of the expansive transportation networks that facilitated movement into the western territories. This enabled the carriage of vast mineral resources and supported the influx of immigrants to the new industrializing urban centers.
Andrew Carnegie, a pivotal figure in the steel industry, capitalized on the Bessemer process to establish the Carnegie Steel Factory, which eventually dominated the United States steel market. His practice of vertical integration, where he controlled all aspects of production from raw materials to transportation, revolutionized the industry by further reducing costs and securing quality. This helped spur the construction of additional factories, the expansion of infrastructure, and broad industrialization, including the development of the first skyscrapers.
In addition to aiding in the construction and expansion of the transcontinental railroad, the Bessemer steel process also played a crucial role in the internal economic growth and transformation from rural to urban societies. The advent of mass-produced steel through this process and the subsequent industrial advancements it enabled were instrumental in America's rapid growth during the Second Industrial Revolution.
The resulting demand for steel drove not just the growth of the steel industry but also necessitated government intervention and support in the form of railroad development and protectionist tariffs. These policies and technological innovations laid the groundwork for the United States emerging as a leading industrial power by the turn of the century.