Inventions of the Industrial Revolution

The Spinning Jenny

1764

James Hargreeves invented a large wheel-shaped machine used to spin thread into many spindles at one time.

Steam Engine

1769

James Watt invented an engine that is powered by steam and uses the energy from steam to propel things such as boats forward.

Power Loom

1785

Edmund Cartwright invented a loom that ran on steam power, significantly reducing the need for workers as the process was now mechanized.

Cotton Gin

1794

Eli Whitney invented a device used to quickly separate cotton from the seeds making operations quicker and more efficient when separating cotton fibers.

Locomotive

1804

Richard Trevithick invented A small self-propelling vehicle used to shuffle carts on rails roads and travels along the rails.

Steamboat

1807

Robert Fulton invented the Steamboat, which aided in water transportation, and was more efficient due to utilizing steam power to move around.

Camera

1816

Joseph Nicéphore Niépce invented a device used to capture a detailed image from a moment in time and print this image onto a film.

Sewing Machine

1819

Elias Howe invented a device to quickly put stitches into clothes saving time as it was much quicker than hand sewing.

Telegraph

1844

Samuel Morse invented a machine used to carry by making and breaking an electrical connection. Messages were in a code of dots and dashes known as morse code.

Dynamite

1866

Alfred Nobel invented an explosive known as dynamite which would be used to aid in the conduction of tunnels for trains, as well as in mining operations.

Telephone

1876

Antonio Meucci invented a machine that made it possible to speak with people living far away via communication through a speaker you talk into.

Automobile

1886

Carl Benz invented machines to transport people and goods outside the railroads without using horses and oxen for power. Instead of relying upon an engine for energy to power this vehicle.