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Eli Whitney Invents Cotton Gin
The cotton gin separated the cotton seeds from the cotton much faster than what had previously been done by hand. It essentially did a day's worth of work in one hour. This led to more planting of cotton crops. -
Robert Fulton Runs First Steamboat
Although he did not create the first steamboat or steamboat engine; Robert Fulton designed and patented the first commercially-viable steamboat, the Clermont, which traveled from New York City to Albany, New York. -
Cyrus McCormick Invents Horse-Drawn Reaper
McCormick's invention automatically cut, threshed, and bundled grain, while it was pulled by a team of horses. Before this invention, all of the work was done by hand. This cut down on the farmer's work and time tremendously. -
John Deere Invents Riding Plow
This invention helped farmers turn the sod on their land more easily, which had stuck to prior plows made of wood and iron. It was much less physically demanding on the farmers; women and children would use this piece of equipment, as well. -
Samuel F.B. Morse Utilizes Telegraph
Morse invented the electric telegraph and the Morse Code, which was a series of dots and dashes used to communicate over the wires. In May of 1844, Morse sent a message from Washington to Baltimore, using the first inter-city electromagnetic telegraph line.
