Chapter 20, Section 3: Inventions Change the Nation

Main Idea: New technologies transformed American industry

and life in the late 1800s.

Over 500,00 patents issued from 1870-1900 (21,000 in 1897 alone)

A. Speeding Up Communications Telegraph (1844)- Samuel Morse (Morse Code)

Communicating Across the AtlanticCommunicating Across the Atlantic News took weeks to travel across the Atlantic

Ocean from US to Europe, or vice-versa Transatlantic Cable (1866) - Cyrus Field

connected U.S. to Europe by telegraph with underwater cable across Atlantic Ocean floor

Bell’s “Talking Machine”Bell’s “Talking Machine” Telephone - Alexander Graham Bell (1876) Was seen mostly as a toy by people at first By 1885, Bell Telephones were used by over

300,000 businesses . This speeded up the pace of business since telegraph operators were no longer necessary.

Eventually, phones would become common in homes, as well.

Mr. Watson, please come here. I want

you.

Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell

Telephone (1876)Telephone (1876)

B. Edison: “The Wizard of Menlo Park”Turning Invention Into a SystemTurning Invention Into a System

Edison’s lab in Menlo Park, NJ employed teams of experts who refined his ideas & made them into real inventionsThe “Wizard of Menlo Park” invented light bulb, phonograph, movie projector, & hundreds more

• The movie industry was created as a result.

The Power of ElectricityThe Power of ElectricityHis electric power plant first supplied electricity to businesses in NYC in 1882, then to homes within a year.Other plants were built to supply other cities with electricity.Factories started using safer & quieter electrical engines to replace steam engines.Electricity became main source of power.

Genius is 1% inspiration…

99% perspiration.

The Phonograph (1877)The Phonograph (1877)

C. Technology Takes CommandThe Refrigerated Railroad CarThe Refrigerated Railroad Car

Gustavus Swift’s invention enabled western cattle to be shipped from Chicago, where it was slaughtered, on refrigerated RR cars to eastern cities. Before that, meat had to be sold locally only or it would spoil.

New Technologies at the Office & at HomeNew Technologies at the Office & at HomeTypewriter (1868) – Christopher SholesLightweight, portable Camera (1888) – George Eastman (Kodak)

African American InventorsAfrican American InventorsElijah McCoy – automatic machine oiler (1872) , Granville Woods - train telegraph, Jan Matzeliger - shoemaking machine (1883)Many others had trouble getting patents due to racist practices.

D. Automobiles & the Assembly LineFord’s Moving Assembly LineFord’s Moving Assembly Line

Henry Ford made the car affordable for many “commoners” by building it on an assembly line, instead of by hand. They could be mass produced.

• faster production = more supply = cheaper priceMass Production - making large quantities of goods quickly and cheaply

1. Assembly Line - product moves along a conveyer belt while workers add parts to it as it passes by them (each worker has a different job to do)

2. Standardized Parts – parts made identical to each other (interchangeable)

3. Division of Labor - each person does same job over & over & over …

Cars for the PublicCars for the Public At first, automobiles were thought to be “nuisances” & dangerous. Towns & villages often banned “horseless carriages” from their roads.Eventually, they caught on - 1900: 8,000 / 1917: 4.5 millionWomen found greater independence & freedom by driving.

Model T Automobile

Model T Automobile

Henry FordI want to pay my workers so

that they can afford my product!

Henry FordI want to pay my workers so

that they can afford my product!

E. Mass ProductionPros (+)

1. Provided many jobs (less skilled labor needed)

2. Lowered the cost of products (law of supply & demand)

3. More workers meant more people could afford more things (higher standard of living)

Cons (-)1. Jobs were boring

(same thing over & over)

2. Lowered the quality of products (workers didn’t care as much)

3. Factories=pollution (harmful to environment)

F. The First Flight Orville and Wilbur Wright (Ohio bicycle mechanics) December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, NC

• 1st attempt - 12 seconds, 120 feet• 4th attempt – 59 seconds

By 1905, they were flying up to ½ hour with turns & figure 8s. At first, people didn’t see much use for it, until the military used them to locate enemy positions.