The 1880's
The rise of big business took place during the 1880's. This decade was when the petroleum industry rose. The Salvation Army was also founded during these years. John D. Rockefeller and Thomas Edison were some important people who cooperated with the importance of this decade. Transportation was also a major movement during this decade. Standard oil was making history with its movement that was evolving the United States.
The Salvation Army was originally created in London, England. Which was created by William Booth, a Methodist preacher. He would be around the country preaching and helping out people in need. His daughter Evangeline Booth helped her father start the Salvation Army here at the U.S. She took over the American Salvation Army after her sister couldn't run it anymore. She was the chief of it for thirty years. This was founded here for people in need. She also created hospitals, shelters, and places for people to go work when they need a job. Her Salvation Army helped a lot during earthquakes like in San Francisco, and later on in World War 1.
Thomas Edison was an American inventor. He was born on February 11, 1847 at Milan, Ohio. He is considered one of the first persons to use the principles of mass production. He is well known by collaborating with the phonograph, and the light bulb. Most of his early inventions were dealing with telegraphy. When he made up the phonograph he became known as The Wizard of Menlo Park. His early phonograph was only able to record little pieces of sound and not in very good condition. It also was only able to play a couple of times. The invention of the light bulb was also another great invention. Now it was possible to light up a city at night, and it was al thanks to his light bulb and electricity current. Thanks to his light bulb, he helped out Henry Ford with the electricity in the first cars. He helped him out until his death in October 18, 1931.
John D. Rockefeller was an American Industrialist. He was born July 8, 1839 at Richford, New York, U.S.A. He is greatly remembered as the richest American that ever lived. He made a fortune in what he developed as the oil industry, which made it possible for him to 
retire the last forty years of his life. After the Civil War, Rockefeller created the Standard Oil of Ohio. This was so good that he became the biggest investor of the country. He had trains transporting in and out his petroleum all around. That was so good that he killed of his competitors in just six weeks. When other small businesses didn't want to accept his offers for buying their property he would get them to go bankrupt using his business. Then after that they would need the money so they would end up selling him the territory for cheaper. John D. Rockefeller always came out winning.
Transportation was a major movement in the 1880's. Trolley cars were invented. They were now the major source of transportation. These trolleys ran through the streets and were made to work by electrical wires on top of the car which made it work. It would slide through it and that's how it would run. The 1 st American trolley operated was in Richmond, Virginia in 1888. This was a new way of transportation and the most popular one at that time now. It was also the fastest way to travel from one place to the other.
The decade of the 1880's was important to American history. This had the movement of oil industry, electricity, the Salvation Army, and transportation. John D. Rockefeller contributed a lot as well as Thomas Edison.
This decade started and formed a new shape of the United States. It evolved it form here to there by using new technology and investors to make the country prosper more and more.
Sources-
John D. Rockefeller: The World's Richest Man
Mark Skousen, The Worldly Philosophers Club,
http://www.worldlyphilosophers.com/rockefeller.jpg