Transcript Inventions of the Gilded Age/Industrial Revolution

• America became an economic world power after the Civil
War.
• New inventions and technologies helped to fuel this
growth.
• This period (1865-1900) is known as the Second Industrial
Revolution.
• Don’t forget it’s also known as “The Gilded Age”.
• Following the Civil War, steam and electricity replaced
animal and human strength.
• Iron replaced wood, and steel replaced iron.
• The Bessemer process made the production of steel more
economical.
• Before the Bessemer process, it took an entire day to
produce 5 tons of steel.
• Bessemer process: 15 minutes!!
Name one industry that was able to
benefit from the mass production of
steel.
• New and improved steam engines were also invented
during this period which powered factories.
• These factories manufactured everything from steel to
clothing.
• These steam engines also enabled mines to drill
deeper into the earth.
• These drills eventually were able to strike oil.
• Oil was then used for lubrication and for lighting.
Steam powered-Burned coal to heat water
Electricity
• Electricity was first used in our country for
communication.
How do you think electricity was used for
communication?
The Telegraph
• The telegraph was invented by Samuel Morse.
• The telegraph was a system of communication in
which signals are sent through electric wires.
• These wires are placed atop wooden poles which
span can span thousands of miles.
The telegraph is a method of communication that is
considered to be the world’s first text sending machine!
Samuel Morse
SEWING MACHINE
Invented by Elias Howe
(1846)
How did the sewing machine improve the
lives of Americans?
PASSENGER ELEVATOR
Invented by Elisha Otis
(1852)
Otis did not invent the elevator.
He invented the “safety” elevator which
meant that the elevator had brakes if the
elevator cables ever broke.
Typewriter
Christopher Sholes (1867)
What device do most of you have in your
possession that uses Christopher Sholes
invention?
Telephone (1876)
Alexander Graham Bell
• Invented in 1876 by Alexander
Graham Bell
• Allowed people to transmit
messages from long distance
“Mr. Watson—Come here—I want to see you"
Light Bulb (1879)
Thomas Edison
• Thomas Edison invented over 1,000 products!
• Considered the greatest American inventor.
• Invented the light bulb in 1879.
• In a few short years, his light bulbs would light up every
major city in the United States and eventually the world.
Edison invented the light bulb in 1879.
By 1920, most homes in American cities had
electricity and used light bulbs.
How did the invention of the light bulb revolutionize
business (factories, shops) in our country?
AIRPLANE
Orville and Wilbur Wright (1903)
Orville and Wilbur Wright
• The Wright brothers were two bicycle mechanics who had
been experimenting with gliders since they were both very
young.
• On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers succeeded in
making the first free, controlled flight of a power-driven
airplane. An extraordinary achievement, Wilbur flew the plane
for 59 seconds over a distance of 852 feet.