The Industrial Revolution in the United States

This Library of Congress Student Discovery Set is here to put history into your hands. It brings together historical artifacts and one-of-a-kind documents from the collections of the Library of Congress. Interactive tools let you zoom in for close examination, draw to highlight interesting details, and make notes about what you discover. There’s no single right answer, only new discoveries to be made.


The Industrial Revolution took place over more than a century, as production of goods moved from home-based businesses to machine-aided factories. This set brings together maps, songs, photos, and political cartoons that tell the story of the United States' transition to an industrial nation.


This set is intended for open-ended primary source analysis by students. A Teacher’s Guide with background information, teaching ideas, and additional resources is available on the Library’s Web site for teachers, loc.gov/teachers.