Technological Advancement to make life better from 1865-1829 (M.M.)

Railroad

1869

Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act in 1862, to commission the Union Railroad to build new tracks west from Omaha, Nebraska and Central Pacific Railroad moved east from California. The tracks were met in 1869 at Promontory Summit(1). The completion of railroad united the nation from east coast to west coast. It made it easier for people to transfer goods and opened doors for many people to move west. It also opened new opportunities and started the growth of a community(2).

Railroad Citation

1869

(1) "The Pacific Railway." A Brief History of the Pacific Railway - The Transcontinental Railroad. Accessed July 27, 2017. http://railroad.lindahall.org/essays/brief-history.html.
(2) "Railroads in the Late 19th Century - American Memory Timeline- Classroom Presentation | Teacher Resources." Library of Congress. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/riseind/railroad/.

Barbed Wire

1874

In 1874, Joseph Glidden’s patent for barbed wire was granted(1). This invention was mostly useful for people in the west and south. His invention was specifically to prevent cattle from breaking through a wire fence(2). At the time, cowboys and cattle were a big problem in the west. Barbed wire was a cheap and easier way to keep cowboys out. This helped farmers preserve their farms. Everything that was once open was now closed off(3).

Barbed Wire

1874

(1) The Ellwood House | History of Barbed Wire. Accessed July 31, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20060712125058/http://www.ellwoodhouse.org/barb_wire/.
(2) "Patent US157124 - Improvement in wire-fences." Google Patents. Accessed July 31, 2017. https://www.google.com/patents/US157124.
(3) "Glidden's Patent Application for Barbed Wire." National Archives and Records Administration. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/barbed-wire#documents.

Telephone

1876

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell capitalized the telephone; he was not the first to invent the telephone. This invention made communication easier. People were now able to talk in the comfort and privacy of their own rooms(1). Friends could now talk to each other without leaving their homes(2). Telephone led to more unity among the Americans because it simply made it easier to communicate. Instead of waiting for letters or finding time to meet, one phone call was a faster way to communicate.

Telephone Citation

1876

(1) "THE TELEPHONE." New York Times (1857-1922), Mar 22, 1876. https://login.ezproxy.uta.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.uta.edu/docview/93509836?accountid=7117. (2) The First Telephone Call. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/recon/jb_recon_telephone_2.html.

Incandescent Light Bulb

1879

In 1879, Tomas Alva Edison invented the incandescent light bulb(1). This invention made people’s life easier everywhere in the US. At night people where now able to see what they were doing. There was more light at night which let people work at night and do chores even after sunset. Before the invention of light bulb, people use to rely on candles. Light bulb increased productivity of people and allowed them to work in a safer environment.

Incandescent Light Bulb Citation

1879

(1) OpenStax CNX. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://cnx.org/contents/p7ovuIkl@3.37:pk0CEIxv@3/Inventors-of-the-Age.

Alternating Current

1888

In 1886, Westinghouse invented the “alternating current”, which delivered power over great distance due to its wave-like patterns(1). This made it easier for people to get electricity to their homes, factories, and farms. Before this, people use to live close to the power source but now, power could be delivered anywhere. This helped factories expand in the East since now they could build a factory anywhere and still get electricity. Machines could be operated further away from the power source.

Alternating Current

1888

(1) OpenStax CNX. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://cnx.org/contents/p7ovuIkl@3.37:pk0CEIxv@3/Inventors-of-the-Age.

High Frequency Alternator

1906

In 1906, Alternator transmitter was invented by Reginald Fessenden which lead to the first radio broadcast(1). At the time, this was another way of communication. People could use this, wireless telephone, at sea as a safety guard(2). Radio broadcasted music, news and live game commentary, advertisers, stories, and speeches(3). It was an entertainment for people. Radio United both east coast and west coast. People could now know of news on the other side quickly.

High Frequency Alternator Citation

1906

(1) 8. Alternator-Transmitter Development (1891-1922). Accessed July 30, 2017. http://earlyradiohistory.us/sec008.htm.
(2) Experiments and Results in Wireless Telephony (1907). Accessed July 27, 2017. http://earlyradiohistory.us/1907fes.htm.
(3) OpenStax CNX. Accessed July 27, 2017. https://cnx.org/contents/p7ovuIkl@3.37:3fuZpgi4@3/Prosperity-and-the-Production-.

Model T

1908

Model T was a car built by Ford in 1908. Model T was one of the first affordable automobiles(1). This model was affordable by an average middle-class American(2). People now could live further away from home resulting in the formation of Suburbans in the east. People could now get away from the tenements houses in the cities and still work.

Model T Citation

1908

(1) "Henry Ford and the Model T." Henry Ford and the Model T: US History for Kids ***. Accessed July 30, 2017. http://www.american-historama.org/1881-1913-maturation-era/henry-ford-model-t.htm.
(2) OpenStax CNX. Accessed July 27, 2017. https://cnx.org/contents/p7ovuIkl@3.37:3fuZpgi4@3/Prosperity-and-the-Production-.

Assembly Line

1913

In 1913, Ford was the first to fully adopted the idea(1) of the assembly line by producing cars in moving assembly lines. In assembly lines, one person did a job continuously and passed it to another in logical order till the product was completed. This was efficient because workers only had to be good at what their specific job was. This idea resulted in the mass production and eventually made Model T affordable by locals. Assembly lines made it easier to mass produce leading to cheaper prices.

Assembly Line Citation

1913

(1) "The Ford Model T Assembly Line." The Assembly Line: US History for Kids ***. Accessed July 26, 2017. http://www.american-historama.org/1913-1928-ww1-prohibition-era/assembly-line.htm.

Commercial Air Flight

1914

In 1914, a new way of transportation began. Airplanes were new inventions that could take people half way around the country in a very short amount of time. The first commercial airline was St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat(1). Airplanes was an effective way to transport goods. The airline closed in March the same year because it didn’t have a steady income. Later in 1930’s, Boeing and Ford developed airplanes for passengers. Airplanes were also very helpful later in the years during WWII(2).

Commercial Air Flight Citation

1914

(1) "The World's First Scheduled Airline." Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Accessed July 30, 2017. https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/america-by-air/online/early_years/early_years01.cfm.
(2) OpenStax CNX. Accessed July 27, 2017. https://cnx.org/contents/p7ovuIkl@3.37:3fuZpgi4@3/Prosperity-and-the-Production-.

Cinema

1920

Cinema has been around for a long time but in 1920's more people started going to the movies. It was a way for people to escape their life in the cities. Movies were more popular in the eastern areas. In 1920's, people had more disposable income(1) and went to movies more frequently than today. Film production at the time was mostly based around New York. Later, the industry was moved to California due to the climate.

Cinema Citation

1920

(1) OpenStax CNX. Accessed July 26, 2017. https://cnx.org/contents/p7ovuIkl@3.37:3fuZpgi4@3/Prosperity-and-the-Production-.

Television

1927

In 1927, a new form of entertainment was invented. Television at the time was mostly enjoyed by rich people and was hard to show rapid motion(1). It was a form of entertainment from your home. People could watch movies and shows from their homes. It was another way to get new and advertise. Later in the years, televisions were used to reinforce the idea of individualism and the values of family(2). They portrayed women as happy house wife and men as hard workers as an ideal suburban family.

Television Citation

1927

(1) "TELEVISION BY RADIO TO BE SH0WN IN JUNE." New York Times (1923-Current File), May 14, 1928. https://login.ezproxy.uta.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.uta.edu/docview/104342215?accountid=7117.
(2) OpenStax CNX. Accessed July 31, 2017. https://cnx.org/contents/p7ovuIkl@3.37:yFBLqd97@3/Popular-Culture-and-Mass-Media.