The Second Industrial Revolution occurred from the early 19th to early 20th centuries. The First Industrial Revolution saw steam-powered machines replace human labour in industry. The Second Industrial Revolution saw electricity replace steam as the main power source in industry.Major innovations were made in the use of new energy sources such as gas and electricity. Electricity was applied to transportation and communications. The use of electricity promoted growth on a large scale.ith the discovery of electricity in the Second Industrial Revolution, great advances in communication technology were made. See Image Three. In 1837, British scientist Sir Charles Wheatstone invented the first electric telegraph. Messages were sent using needles and wires to a remote receiver.