Chapter 23 The Mass Society in an ?Age of Progress,? 1871-1894 The Growth of Industrial Prosperity New Products First major change in industrial development after 1870 was the substitution of steel for iron. Great Britain fell behind Germany in steel production Great Britain also fell behind in the new chemical industry. By 1910: power stations and plants districts tide to single power distribution systems commons source of power for homes, shops, industrial enterprises Thomas Edison: invention of lightbulb Joseph Swan: opened homes and cities to illumination by electric lights Alexander Graham Bell: 1876: invented telephone Guglielmo Marconi: 1901: sent first radio waves across the Atlantic 1897: invention of oil-fired engion 1902: used by Hamburg-Amerika Line ocean liners