There were amazing, world-changing inventions that were made throughout history. Some inventions, however, have been taken for granted such as the telephone, light bulb, and refrigerator. One invention not commonly recognized as amazing is the steamboat. Created after the steam engine was improved in 1769, the steamboat would be created by and Robert Fulton (“Steam Engine”). Through many years of trial and improvement, the steamboat would become a commercial success when Fulton navigated through the Hudson River. Even after the steamboat’s debut, it continued to be ameliorated and implemented into different aspects of life such as in wars (“Fulton, Robert”). Without Fulton’s invention, the United States may have developed differently. Overall, …show more content…
the invention and the development of the steamboat is important and has contributed to America’s history by improving transportation. The origins of the steamboat came from the need of transportation. After President Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory, an increase in trade between states and immigration westward emerged. The populous’ most effective way of travel was by rivers such as the Mississippi and Alabama rivers. However, the direction and the speed of the currents dictated where and how quickly civilians could travel. Boats that were made for travel were sold for their parts and the riders chose to return to their hometown by foot or by another waterway rather than returning against the current since it was too time-consuming (“The Market Revolution”). After the demand for quick transportation, Robert Fulton began to gain an interest in the improvement of water transportation.
After ending his career in the art field in London, England, 1794; American Robert Fulton, turned to canal engineering. He thought an inland-water system based on miniature canals in the suburban regions would aid in populous travel, but his ideas were not accepted by anyone. In 1797, Fulton traveled to Paris where he revealed his idea of the Nautilus, a submarine-like machine, to the French in hope that his model would be used in battle. His proposal was rejected due to the immorality of the concept, but Fulton funded and tested his own creation of Nautilus. The French government then passed the Nautilus for battle use, but the vessel was too slow, however, and British ships could evade its attacks (Curley …show more content…
61). With Fulton’s trials and experience of building a sea vessel, he would continue designing the steamboat, but with aid. While in France, Fulton met the minister of France, Robert R. Livingston and decided to collaborate on designing a new version of the steamboat that was safe and efficient. In 1806, Fulton arrived with Livingston to New York and began creating the steamboat and used knowledge from the Nautilus in his prototype steamboat. A year later, a 150-foot-long boat was created and named Steamboat by Robert Fulton. Powered by steam produced from burning pine and oak in a “single-cylinder condensing steam engine,” the steamboat moved by two 15-foot-diameter side paddle wheels propelling the vessel (Curley 62). After Fulton constructed his prototype of the steamboat, he wished to test and begin commercialization of the invention.
To test his steamboat, he decided to navigate the Hudson River that spanned 150 miles from New York to Albany. He traveled the distance in 32 hours which was unheard of since the time for the same trip was four days with sailing sloops. From the test, Fulton improved upon his steamboat by installing berths in the cabins, an engine house, raising the bulwark, and railings on the sides of the vehicle. These improvements resulted in Fulton’s invention, renamed to North River Steamboat, becoming commercially successful and began taking passengers and light cargo to New York and from Albany fortnightly. Shortly after, Fulton would make a stronger steamboat called the North River Steamboat of Clermont with modifications such as forged crankshafts, fitted guards over the wheels, and minor passenger accommodations to adapt to jealous sloop boatment who “accidentally” crash into Fulton’s steamboat (Curley
63). Later in history, the steamboat would be made for more than just transportation of goods and people. In 1812, the British blockaded the United States and Fulton thought of an idea to construct a floating gunner platform to protect the shores of America. Fulton's idea gave birth to the first war steamboat named Demologos or Fulton by others. The Demologos was built with “two parallel hulls, with paddlewheel between; the steam engine in one hull, and boilers and stacks in the other” (Curley 64). Measuring at 156 feet in length and moving at an approximate rate of six miles per hour, the war steamboat underwent sea trials successfully but was never put into action (Curley 65). Not only was Fulton’s creation of the steamboat amazing but also contributed to the United States history by innovating transportation. Fulton's steamboat revolutionized transportation by creating a water vessel that could transport people and cargo with or against river currents. If Fulton never worked with Livingston in France, people who traveled by rivers in the United States would take longer to reach their destination and travel back to their hometown. Additionally, the United States may have chosen railroads as the primary method for people and cargo to travel. Without Robert Fulton’s ability to design and construct a war steamboat, the United States may not have been able to defend its borders against British Navy fleets and would have suffered even greater economically or would have been forced to have a market revolution sooner. In conclusion, the steamboat is an important invention that has gone through many improvements and contributed to America’s history by mobilization. After Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana area, the need for transportation westward emerged. Fulton developed an idea for an underwater war vessel, called Nautilus, but was ultimately turned down the French government. He then met Robert R. Livingston and worked with him to build a new, successful steamboat. They accomplished this after a 150-mile voyage through the Hudson River. Shortly after, the steamboat was improved and renamed as North River Steamboat. In 1812, the British blockaded the United States which resulted in Fulton crafting the Demologos, a war steamboat, to protect America’s coast. Without Fulton’s invention of the steamboat, America may have developed differently such as by railroads or industrialized sustainment. Overall, the invention of the steamboat is amazing and deserves more recognition as a world-changing invention.
It's amazing to think that a young boy with just a few years of formal schooling went on to become a creative genius and one of the world's most important inventors, receiving more than 50 patents for devices that dramatically changed, improved and modernized the railway system.
The gas mask, ever wondered who invented it? If not, then what about the traffic light? Well, Garrett A Morgan invented both of them. You may not have heard of him simply because Morgan been buried under and never spoken of simply because Morgan was a minority back when racism and sexism were extremely common. So they basically never talked about him inventing anything, and now not many people know about him. Both of his inventions are one of the greatest inventions to date.
Transportation improved from the market revolution through many new inventions, railroads, steamboats, and canals. Pressure for improvements in transportation came at least as much from cities eager to buy as from farmers seeking to sell. The first railroad built was in 1792, it started a spread throughout the states. Cumberland which began to be built in 1811 and finished in 1852, known to be called the national road stretched over five hundred miles from Cumberland to Illinois. By 1821, there were four thousand miles of turnpike in the United States. Turnpikes were not economical to ship bulky goods by land across long distance across America, so another invention came about. Robert Fulton created steam boats in 1807; he named his first one ‘Clermont.’ These steam boats allowed quick travel upriver against the currents, they were also faster and cheaper. The steamboats became a huge innovation with the time travel of five miles per hour. It also stimulated agricultural economy of west by providing better access to markets at lower cost. While steamboats were conquering the western rivers, canals were being constructed in the northeastern states. The firs...
...producing his invention of the steel plow. John’s meager start with the steel plow now has turned into a business producing tractors that drive themselves. His inventions changed the way of life for farmers of the past, present and future.
This time period also saw many new inventions that would change American society forever. Such things as the telephone, radio, and television are things that the average present day American could not imagine living without. But a hundred years ago people were amazed at such things. Railroads were now able to bring people all over the country while steam ships could bring you all around the world and airplanes could let you fly. The horseless carriage turned into the automobile.
William Clark was ½ of the genius team that made their way through miles of unknown land, unknown nature, unknown natives, and came home with all but one voyager, who was killed of natural causes. William Clark and Meriwether Lewis were the first Americans to try and map the Louisiana Purchase area, and not only did they map it, they discovered allies, new plants and animals, and discovered new land and water routes that could be useful for future travelers.
Since the days of Lewis and Clark men have dreamed of harnessing the "Father of Waters" in the interests of commerce and development. The long struggle which ensued required incredible ingenuity and determination on the part of engineers as well as enormous capital investment. The Mississippi River Commission, established in 1897, was the first federal program designed specifically to meet these requirements, and early systems, instituted by the Army Corps of Engineers, saw much success. Technological advancements in the fields of transportation, flood control, and natural resource management were needed and, eventually, emerged to provide the level of control possible today. This report will discuss the technological transformation of the upper Mississippi river and the motivation behind it from the middle 1800's.
The steamboat was getting better and better. It could soon hold 14 passengers. The Steamboat was called the “North River” it was rebuilt; it had three cabins a kitchen and a bar. Harriet Livingston and Fulton had 4 children. He continued building boats. He even designed ferries and convinced the Congress to let him make a steam Warship. It was called the Demologos.
Farmers, who had moved out west looked for a way to send their produce back east. However, roads were far too expensive and inefficient for this. Thus, canals and steamboats were used to link the country commercially and allow for the transport of goods across the nation. The Erie Canal was one of the greatest technological achievements of its time. At 363 miles long it connects New York to the Great Lakes by water (Sheriff 251). The canal provided easy passage halfway across the country for people and goods and sparked a push for westward movement. To travel on these new canals steambo...
New technology is arriving every day. The greatest invention during this time was the steam engine. The creation of the steam engine was credited to James Watt. There had been other steam engines before James Watt’s, but none of them were efficient. Watt’s engine was the first efficient engine that could be used in a factory.
Roads, steamboats, canals, and railroads lowered the cost and shortened the time of travel. By making these improvements, products could be shipped into other areas for profit (Roark, 260). Steamboats set off a huge industry and by 1830, more than 700 steamboats were operating up and down the Ohio and Mississippi River (Roark, 261). Steamboats also had some flaws, due to the fact of deforesting the paths along the rivers. Wood was needed to refuel the power to the boat.
Travel by land and water was both tedious and expensive. Transporting one ton of goods across states would cost around 100 dollars or 1,265 dollars in today’s money. In the 1790s, land routes connecting the east coast and the farther western regions of the United States were undeveloped. Along with this, when weather conditions were poor land routes could not support any sort of dependable shipping by wagon, or even travel by horseback. Natural waterways provided the most dependable method of transport west of Albany. Even travel by waterway in this time period was inconvenient because these water routes were unreliable due to shallow water and raging rapids.
In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, economics, business, and industry began to change in America and all around the world. Many would credit the Industrial Revolution as a whole to describe the changes that were made in so many different industries in America; however, these changes can be largely credited to only a few different individuals. Many different people made impacts on American economics and society, although much of this change can be credited to three individuals who stood out among the many. John Pierpont (J.P.) Morgan can be credited with financially supporting many different industries, as he was the top banker of his time. Thomas Edison is given credit for many electrical inventions that changed the way people live their everyday lives. Henry Ford was a great industrial innovator who
The current size, inherent values, and economic status of the United States owes greatly to the paramount figures and events that took place during the Early National Period of the country. However, while there is no doubt that such events- and the figures behind them- were of great importance and have molded the country into the pristine product that it is today, the various construction projects of that time have gone largely unnoticed. Canals, being one of the most prominent advances in transportation, are prime examples of forgotten catalysts of the American nation. The construction of canals- particularly the Erie Canal- during the 19th century played a key role in the geographic, economic, and cultural development of the country by allowing an easier and faster mode of transport, and contributing greatly to the preservation of the Union during the Civil War.
Innovation is the key to solving problems that seemed impossible. By using things that have been developed before and improving upon them, many things have come to life. In Thomas Newcomen’s case, the steam engine had been around for a little while, but not to a quality that the industry demanded. Thomas Savery had previously made a steam engine used to pump water out from mines