I've seen charts of U.S. power consumption from the 1930s to the 1990s, & they all show a fairly steady increase, decade over decade.
It made me wonder what the effect of earlier industrialization in the U.S. might have. Say, for instance (& exactly how is irrelevant to me), somebody invents a very early internal combustion engine around 1800, & it enters mass production (comparable to the Concord stage, if not exactly the Model T).
How much does this increase U.S. energy consumption between 1800 & 1900, compared to OTL? (Bearing in mind U.S. population was dramatically smaller than 1900-2000, so that direct parallel isn't great.)
Thoughts?
It made me wonder what the effect of earlier industrialization in the U.S. might have. Say, for instance (& exactly how is irrelevant to me), somebody invents a very early internal combustion engine around 1800, & it enters mass production (comparable to the Concord stage, if not exactly the Model T).
How much does this increase U.S. energy consumption between 1800 & 1900, compared to OTL? (Bearing in mind U.S. population was dramatically smaller than 1900-2000, so that direct parallel isn't great.)
Thoughts?