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The Steamboat
Variations of the steamboat were created by different people, the first being John Fitch in 1787, when he made a successful run on the Delaware River. He later built a larger steamboat and used it commercially to ferry passengers. Successors of the steamboat were also used much for the same purpose, facilitating a revolution in transportation that would soon sweep the United States. -
The Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was created by inventor Eli Whitney. This machine was designed to efficiently comb the seeds out of cotton balls by pulling the cotton through a rotating cylinder with openings that were too small for the seeds to pass through. This made the process of removing seeds from the cotton go much faster and allowed for more cotton to be prepared for the mills. -
Interchangeable Parts
Eli Whitney was the first to popularize the concept of interchangeable parts. Usage of this resulting in production transforming from a one-by-one process into a factory process. This considerably sped up production and made it much more efficient, allowing goods to be produced in much larger quantities in a much shorter amount of time. -
Beginning of the Construction of the National Road
This was the first highway to be built by the federal government, but after some time the project was turned over to the states. It provided a connection between the Potomac and the Ohio Rivers and also served as a gateway west to thousands of settlers. Like the Erie Canal, it also served to lower the costs of shipping various goods. -
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Creation of the Erie Canal
The Erie Canal created a revolution in transportation that swept through the Northern states that led to dramatic social and economic changes, such as immigrants traveling along and forming towns on its route or lowering the cost of shipping. -
The Railroad and the Locomotive
The first American locomotive, Tom Thumb, was built by Peter Cooper and tested in 1830. There were only 13 miles of track for that first locomotive, but it wasn't long before train travel expanded. They had several advantages over stagecoaches and steamboats: they could travel much faster, and they could go nearly anywhere track was laid. More than any other form of transportation, railroads sped the settlement of the West and expanded trade. -
The Telegraph
The telegraph was invented by Samuel F.B. Morse, and as such the code for sending messages on this invention is called Morse code. This revolutionized communication, bringing an end to the communication chains like the Pony Express. The ability to send quick messages was obviously a useful tool for the speedy transmission of news.
