History of Energy in th United States

  • The Water Wheel
    Jan 1, 1000

    The Water Wheel

    3000 BC was the first reference of the water wheel. This was the first step in human history towards using nature's power.
  • Beginning of the Industrial Revolution

    Beginning of the Industrial Revolution

    This was the point in history in which the US began to use fossil fuels and use a lot of energy in general as they discovered new ways to make life easier!
  • Invention of the Steam Engine

    Invention of the Steam Engine

    The Steam Engine was a major invention in the world's history. This led to the discovery of more uses of natural resources.
  • Invention of the Light Bulb

    Invention of the Light Bulb

    Thomas Edison's invention created a world in which you could work at all hours...it made it easy to discover new energies! In addition, this was the first use of electrical energy, which we still use today.
  • Development of Nuclear Power

    Development of Nuclear Power

    The Manhattan project's efforts in creating the nuclear bomb, revolutionized power for the world. Nuclear energy is a usable energy source, although we are still scared of it today.
  • Creation of the Hydrogen Bomb

    Creation of the Hydrogen Bomb

    This was important as it led tothe idea of hydrogen atoms being used for power...still being developed!
  • Solar Power Usage

    Solar Power Usage

    During this time, Solar Power became a great possibility for alternative energy.
  • Oil Crisis

    Oil Crisis

    This was the event that truly triggered the scare about how dependent we are on oil. This is when alternative energies started being thought of.
  • Kyoto Protocol

    Kyoto Protocol

    Although the US did not participate in this pact to reduce emissions, this was an important stage in American thinking about energy usage. This sparked a lot of research into alternative energies.
  • Ethanol Usage

    Ethanol Usage

    Although having been in use for other purposes for a couple hundred years, It was in the late 20th century and early 21 century that the US began to consider ethanol as a source of energy.