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Steam Engine
The inventor of the first steam engine was Thomas Newcomen (1712), but in 1765 James Watt improved the design. This was significant during the Industrial Revolution because it replaced manual work with mechanical power. This allowed for further growth of industries due to its ability to make work much more quick and efficient. Additionally, the steam engine influenced the creations of the first trains, steamboats, and factories. -
Introduction
The Industrial Revolution caused the rise of new technology advancements, which greatly impacted people’s lives because it provided new means of transportation, communication and overall the advancements were very beneficial for production. This timeline highlights some of the most important advances in technology, along with their impacts. -
Spinning Jenny
The inventor of the Spinning Jenny was James Hargreaves. It was an important advancement because it decreased the amount of work being done in textile factories. It allowed for the spindling process to be much more efficient by allowing one worker to run eight spindles of wool at once. Another benefit was that it was portable and it was also able to fit into houses, which made them even more popular. -
The Power Loom
The Power Loom was a device that was invented by Edmund Cartwright, and it was used to make fabric. Normally, hand weaving was a lengthy process that took multiple workers at once, just to create one piece of fabric. The loom made it a much quicker process which helped the production in textile factories prosper. -
The Cotton Gin
This technological advancement was created by Eli Whitney. It impacted the Industrial Revolution because it was used to separate cotton from cotton seeds. The Cotton Gin allowed for more efficiency as well as increased cotton production. As a result, it made the cotton plant more profitable for cotton farmers, which helped the economy flourish. -
Steamboat
The inventor of the steamboat was Robert Fulton. This was a significant technological advancement because the steamboat changed the means of sea transportation. It allowed for materials to be transported faster to farther places, and it also allowed for more people to travel. Furthermore, when it was first invented, it was the first commercially successful steamboat voyage that was able to make it from New York to the Hudson River. -
Passenger railways
George Stephenson was the inventor of the first railway line to carry passengers. Before railways were invented, people got around by walking or by using horses. When railways came to be, it greatly impacted transportation on land because it allowed for people to move closer to their jobs, or simply get from place to place quicker and with less effort. -
Telegraph
This invention was created by Samuel Morse, along with the help of other inventors. It revolutionized the means of communications because people were able to send messages over long distances through waves of electric signals that were being transmitted by wires. Shortly after the telegraph was created, so was Morse Code, which allowed for longer messages to be sent out in a more “simple transmission”. -
Telephone
This invention was patented by Alexander Graham Bell. His original intent was to improve the telegraph by Samuel Morse, but then he began to experiment with the electrical signals, which later resulted in the design of the telephone. This was a significant improvement from the telegraph because it allowed people to actively speak to each other from long distances as opposed to sending messages, thus making communication easier. -
Phonograph
The inventor of the phonograph was Thomas Edison. This invention used two needles; one needle was able to record sound and the second one allowed for it to be played back. It was significant because it was multi purposeful, but people liked to use it mainly for entertainment. The phonograph made it possible for musicians to record their music so that everyone could listen to it. -
Incandescent Light Bulb
The incandescent light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison. This invention was important because it replaced gas and oil lamps, and it was a much safer and effective alternative. The light bulb was used in homes and businesses which helped improve working conditions because people were able to see clearly, when it became dark. -
Works Cited
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Image URLs
The URLs are in order: Steam engine, Spinning jenny, power loom, cotton gin, steamboat, Passenger railways, telegraph, telephone, phonograph and incandescent light bulb.
