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Telegraph
The telegraph was invented in 1844 by Samuel F.B. Morse. At telegraph stations, operators transmitted peoples messages in Morse code. By 1860, the United States had thousands of miles of telegraph lines. The telegraph even linked the U.S. to Europe, but took a while to be transmitted. -
Edwin L Drake/ Oil
A former railroad constructor, believed that he could dig to find petrolium. People thought Edwin was crazy, they were wrong. In 1859 Drake dug and hit oil, it helped the United States get oil from a different source. -
Sleep Car
George M. Pullman's invention of the sleep car made traveling on the railroad much more luxurious and comortable. People on wanted to travel longer distances on the railroad and be comfortable. -
Air Brakes
George Westinghouse invented the air brakes in 1868. The air brakes system helped make the trains safer by improving the stopping power of a train. -
Transcontinental Railroad Completed
The first transcontinental railroad was finished in 1869 and consisted of about 30,000 miles of track. This accomplishment helped make the United States more connected from coast to coast. -
Period: to
1869-1877
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Steel Railroad Tracks
The raildroads used to be made out of iron, but that was weaker then steel so they started making them out of steel. It helped by not having to repair the railroads so much and having to pay the workers to fix them. -
Railroad Striking Started
A lot of people got their pay checks lowered and went on strike agian the railroad companies. It did not help the United States at all and slowed down the railroad construction. -
Electric Light Bulb
Thomas Edison, at around age 20 years old, decided to go into the invention buisness. His goal was to produce a minor invention every 10 days and a big one every month. So he usually had 30 to 40 projects going on at once. He designed the first light bulb in 1879. He then designed a power plants that could produce electric power and distribute it to the lightbulbs. -
Standard Gauge
Standard gauge was an improvement to the railroad tracks that made all of the tracks four feet and 8.5 inches in width. This helped the United States by making all of the tracks usable by every train, which made transportation of goods and products much easier and faster. -
Sherman's Antitrust Act
This law was made to protect trade and comerse against unlawful restrant, it didn't define either trust or monopolies. -
Engine Powered Aircraft
In 1903 Orville and Wilber Wright built a wood canvas plane with a 12 horse-power motor. On December 17, 1903 Orville took off and flew 120 feet through the air. -
Introduction of the Model T
Henery Ford's inspiration was to make an inexpense car that would last a lifetime. In 1903 he suceeded his goal and established a company and started building cars. In 1908 he made the Model T, which was cheap and reliable.
