

Empire Builders: The Rise and Fall of the Rust Belt
America's Great Lakes, with an abundance of coal, iron ore, and water, fueled an unparalleled industrial revolution beginning in the 19th century. The region drew the greatest labor force from the western world to run its factories, and made the fortunes of a mighty few who took astonishing risks and created America's first corporations. Learn more about this "modern miracle" of U.S. capitalism.
America's Great Lakes, with an abundance of coal, iron ore, and water, fueled an unparalleled industrial revolution beginning in the 19th century. The region drew the greatest labor force from the western world to run its factories, and made the fortunes of a mighty few who took astonishing risks and created America's first corporations. Learn more about this "modern miracle" of U.S. capitalism.
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