Major Inventions of the Industrial Revolution

  • Spinning Jenny

    Spinning Jenny
    • Invented by James Hargreaves
    • Machines used to weave cloth together to make clothing, etc.
    • Increased clothing production and the need for cotton.
  • The Steam Engine

    The Steam Engine
    • Invented by James Watt
    • Engine powered by steam from boiling water
    • Used in boats and trains for transportations
    • Used in mills to power looms (mills could be built anywhere now)
  • The Thresher

    The Thresher
    • Invented by Andrew Meikle
    • Seperated grains from the stalk.
    • Increased production in agricultural industry and farming trade.
  • The Factory System

    The Factory System
    • Samuel Slater secretly brought the ideas to America
    • Hundreds of people work in one place manufacturing products
    • People move to the city, work by the clock, and earn a wage.
  • The Cotton Gin

    The Cotton Gin
    • Invented by Eli Whitney
    • It seperated seeds from cotton
    • It increased demand for cotton, which increased demand for slaves.
  • Interchangeable Parts

    Interchangeable Parts
    • Invented by Eli Whitney
    • Replacement pieces of exact specifications. Parts that are exactly alike
    • Production became faster
    • Repairs easier and cheaper
    • Decreased need for skilled labor
  • The Steamboat

    The Steamboat
    • Invented by Robert Fulton
    • Boats powered by steam engines rather than water wheels.
    • Transportation became easier and faster and cities such as St. Louis developed. Aided in Westward expansion.
  • The National Road

    The National Road
    • Proposed by Albert Gallatin
    • Road built from Maryland to Virginia
    • Easier route through the Appalacian Mountains
    • Allowed people to move about the country easier and aided with settlement of new areas.
  • The Erie Canal

    The Erie Canal
    • Proposed by John Calhoun
    • Waterway that linked New York City with Buffalo.
    • Opened up Ohio for transportation of farm products and development
    • Westward expansion made easier
  • The Mechanical Reaper

    The Mechanical Reaper
    • Invented by Cyrus McCormick
    • It cut ripe grains (oats, barley, or wheat)
    • Made production 24 times faster.
  • The Steel Plow

    The Steel Plow
    • Invented by John Deere
    • Steel plow did not break or dull in the hard, clay, or rocky soil
    • Increased production and settlers expanded west
  • The Telegraph

    The Telegraph
    • It was invented by Samuel Morse
    • Device used to send messages
    • It improved communication by making it faster
    • Connected regions of the country together