The Gilded Age played an extremely critical role in shaping the American economy throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The manufacturing needs of the Civil War and advances in science and technology moved the American economy toward industrialization. Cities were quickly flooded with immigrants and workers from all corners of the country, creating a pool of cheap labor. Railroads expanded enormously, connecting the nation's major cities and generating a national market in which businesses could compete. A combination of industrialization, technology and urbanization has transformed living standards. During this period, much of the rapid growth that occurred was driven by significant inventions. Amid the explosion of the industrial economy, people saw a surge of opportunity in the market and the chance to innovate further. There was value in providing products and services that could be beneficial to people, businesses and society. The timing of innovation often varied from one industry to another, with a ripple effect. However, this has resulted in an unprecedented level of productivity in every field. Business profits increased as production levels continued to rise, as former workshops were replaced with assembly lines and factories. Large-scale production made economic sense for businessmen as it reduced overhead costs. While some people sought career opportunities in the American frontier, others sought new ways of doing things by incorporating technology. Thomas Edison was one of these people. In 1876, he and his colleagues opened an invention laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where they intended to make "one minor invention every ten days and one great thing every... middle of paper... ..action.Sir Henry claims to have converted wrought iron bars into cast Bessemer steel in thirty minutes, without any specialized manipulation. The reduction in cost, labor and time required to produce steel using this valuable process has enabled the creation of some of the most extraordinary construction projects in history. The Bessemer process had an impact not only on the manufacturing system, but above all on the US economy. Mass production allowed the possibility of using steel in the construction of buildings, bridges and railway lines infrastructure was crucial to the success of the U.S. economy as it migrated to a free enterprise economy. Each of these innovations and developments increased productivity and formed the backbone of the growth that occurred during the Gilded Age. The newly created jobs satisfied the population's demand