Overview
This lecture covers the key inventors and technological innovations that fueled American industrialization between 1870 and 1900, emphasizing the roles of patents, electricity, and major inventors.
Growth of Inventions and Patents
- Inventions surged post-Civil War, driving greater efficiency in production.
- The U.S. Patent Office incentivized innovation by protecting inventors' rights to their ideas.
- The number of patents issued increased dramatically between 1870 and 1900.
Social Changes and Urbanization
- Inventions coincided with significant immigration, urbanization, and population growth.
- By the 1920s, more Americans lived in cities than in rural areas.
- Industrialization focused on producing goods more efficiently.
Major Technological Advances
- Steam engines shifted power sources from nature to machines before electricity became widespread.
- Commercial electricity enabled electric lighting and powered factories, replacing steam.
- The invention of the flush toilet (indoor plumbing) and electricity greatly improved the standard of living.
Innovations in Steel Production
- The Bessemer process and open hearth process revolutionized steelmaking.
- These methods made steel production faster, cheaper, and increased supply.
- Steel became essential for buildings, bridges, automobiles, and trains.
Communication Breakthroughs
- The telegraph (by Samuel Morse) used Morse code for rapid long-distance communication; the transatlantic cable (1858) connected the U.S. to Europe.
- Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, enabling voice communication over distances.
- The American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) expanded telephone access.
Notable Inventors and Their Impact
- Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor, holding around 2,000 patents by age 25.
- Edison’s Menlo Park was the first modern invention laboratory, promising frequent new inventions.
- Edison invented the phonograph, motion picture projector, and most notably, the incandescent light bulb.
- Edison struggled with electrical distribution; George Westinghouse’s alternating current (AC) system made long-distance electricity transmission possible.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Patent — legal protection for inventors to exclusively profit from their inventions.
- Industrialization — transformation from manual production to machine-driven manufacturing.
- Bessemer Process — a method for producing steel quickly and cheaply.
- Telegraph — a communication system sending coded signals over wires.
- Incandescent Light Bulb — electric-powered bulb producing light, invented by Thomas Edison.
- Alternating Current (AC) — a system for transmitting electricity over long distances, developed by George Westinghouse.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key inventors (Bell, Edison, Westinghouse) and their inventions.
- Study the impact of steel production methods and electricity on industrial growth.
- Prepare for questions on the importance of patents and communication advances.