Timeline: James Arnold and Logan Smith | Period 2 | Technological Advancements 1750-1900

Jan 1, 1752

Benjamin Franklin invents the lightning rod

Lightning no longer catches buildings on fire (and the electricity dissipates). This shows man beginning to have control of some aspects of nature.

May 1, 1759

Josiah Wedgwood opens pottery factory

Pots could now be made quickly and efficiently. They were also sold for a cheaper price.

Jan 1, 1764

James Hargreaves invents the spinning jenny

Now the cotton industry was mechanized and cotton could be mass produced.

Apr 17, 1769

James Watt patents the steam engine

The improvement of the steam engine by James Watt made it one of the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution because it could be used in both trains and boats. This greatly increased trade and migrations of people.

Jan 1, 1779

Samuel Cromton’s spinning mule is invented

It combined the spinning jenny with the water frame rollers. It made spinning yarn much more efficient and less costly because two machines were now one.

Jul 1, 1779

First iron bridge

With cast iron prices falling, new buildings and structures could be made out of the durable material.

Apr 1, 1793

Eli Whitney creates the cotton gin

The cotton gin saved many workers from long hours separating the seeds. It made the cotton industry much more profitable and efficient.

Mar 20, 1800

Alessandro Volta’s battery

This Italian physicist was the first to invent the wet celled battery. This invention allowed a steady and reliable stream of energy to be released from an energy source (the battery).

Oct 26, 1819

The Erie Canal is completed

This allowed boats to be able to pass from the Atlantic ocean to the Great Lakes, thus promoting more trade for the United States.

Sep 15, 1830

Rocket, Stephenson's Locomotive

This was the most high-tech steam powered train of its time. It won a prize for the best design because it incorporated many of the newest ideas into one locomotive.

Jan 1, 1836

Samuel Colt invents revolver

It revolutionized guns. This new compact design could be carried easily and concealed. It provided people with safety and a version is still used today.

Jul 25, 1837

Wheatstone and Cooke’s telegraph

This was the first electric telegraph to be put into use commercially. This marked a growing ability for people to communicate over longer distances.

Mar 31, 1838

First steam ship crosses Atlantic

This started a new era and proved that steam could help accomplish a multitude of tasks. It also showed how steam ships were reliable and this caused them to be more popular.

Sep 30, 1841

Samuel Slocum invents the stapler

This invention is used daily in our lives. It helps to keep things attached for a long period of time. It is a simple invention that is very important to us still today.

May 1, 1844

Baltimore to Washington Telegraph

This was the first long distance telegraph line set up across the United States (made by Samuel Morse) and showed even more ability to communicate from longer distances.

Oct 1, 1851

Crystal Palace opens

It shows the new way of building structures. Also it demonstrates how strong iron is and how good of a building material it is.

Jun 6, 1876

Alexander Graham Bell Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone greatly improved communication since the time of the telegraph. Now long distance communication was much easier.

Jan 30, 1883

Cash Register Invented

James Ritty and John Birch received a patent for inventing the cash register. This invention is still used today and allows businesses to keep better track of their cash.