Question

What new england industry quickly collapsed with the discovery of oil in pennsylvania

Answer 1

It was the whaling industry.  Whaling use to be the main source of oil that was used for fuel and lighting in America which was based in the coastal communities of New England.  It went into decline when oil was discovered in 1859.  Eventually it replaced whale oil as a source of fuel and life.

Answer 2

The answer is Whaling industry.

The 1st principle use of whale oil was in lighting lamps and as candle wax. Other uses came with time. The most common whale which was most sought for its oil was the sperm whale. This went on until the petroleum industry opened up in 1859 and by 1900, the whaling industry had collapsed. Mid 1850’s moving forward, the whale fishery was in a declining state before general refining of crude oil commenced from the western Pennsylvania oil fields through oil creek valley and elsewhere. The whaling industry also collapsed partly because of the civil war which began in April, 1861.