New Technology of the Late 1800s
By: Matthew Nelson
Time Zones
- Time zones were created in 1883 by railroad companies; as a result to help organize the transportation of goods, technology, and people. Before 1883 all states in the United States ran on local times; which although useful for smaller regions, didn't help much with the organization of railroads and industrialization of the U.S.
- One thing at the start that was useful about time zones were that they were essentially considered a "compromise". This meant that it cooperated with local times, while still being used for railroads and industrialization.
Railroad Airbrakes
- Before the invention of railroad airbrakes, many train endeavors along the railroad tracks were considered dangerous and a hazard. Yet, after their invention in 1869; many travels would end up being not only safe, but a way faster way of transportation as it would help speed up trains.
- Another interesting fact is that the inventor of railroad airbrakes was named George Westinghouse.
Railroad Airbrakes
Transcontinental Railroad
- The transcontinental railroad was first ever railroad built continuously over the continental U.S.
- The transcontinental railroad finished construction in 1869.
- The reason for this railroad was that it would allow for the transportation of technology, and people; which would help industrialize and populate the west
- The transcontinental railroad was originally known as the "Pacific Railroad".
Transcontinental Railroad
Telegraph
- The patent for the telegraph was first released in 1837 by british inventors.
- The invention of the telegraph allowed for long distance communication throughout the world; sparking a new era of spreading information and sending messages.
- After the construction of telegraph lines throughout the country, the first message was sent in 1844 from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, Maryland
- Although the telegraph was made by british inventors early on, it would be revolutionized and established in the USA by Samuel Morse.
Telephone
- The telephone was first patented in 1876 in the United States by Alexander Graham Bell. Over the next few decades thanks to the innovation of railroad transportation, the west had received its first telephones.
- Although the telephone had been pantented in the United States, it was invented by a white italian man named Antonio Meucci.
Electricity of the 1800s
Electricity
The Phonograph
- Before the invention of the phonograph, also known as the gramophone; many people had never been able to imagine the wonders of hearing recorded sounds.
- For example, nobody had been able to really hear music apart from the local saloon and plays. Yet, this would change after the phonograph was invented in 1877.
Phonograph
The Lightbulb
Lightbulb
- The cold, dark, desolate world- thats what it was up until the lightbulbs invention in 1879. Yet a huge controversy remains with its invention; such as how some people claim that although edison did patent it and made the main invention we use today, many other scientists had helped invent it essentially.
- The incadescent lightbulb was made by the connection of wiring systems to carbon and the currents of electricity flowing through the bulb, producing light.
The Alternating Current (AC)
- The alternating current (AC) was imposed by Nikola Tesla and Westinghouse in 1887. The idea was that currents of electricity would over time switch back and forth between two different directions, allowing for not only a cheaper alternative for electric currents; but also a way to extend the reaches of electricity.
- The alternative to this idea was direct currents; which were imposed and advocated by Thomas Edison. Although direct currents offered a much safer way to transport electricity, it was neither cheap nor an efficient as alternating currents.
Alternating Current
New Machinery
- Although many pieces of machinery were invented during the late 1800s, almost none would show as large of an outcome as internal combustion engines and the automobile. Now, today most people can't think of living without a car, yet back then it was a luxury most couldn't afford. What gave the automobile life was the internal combustion engine, which was invented in 1860. Along with this and the pairing of the wheel, another huge invention in history; this invention would go on to dominate the world.
New Machinery
Manufacturing of Steel
Manufacturing of steel
Bessemer Process
- The bessemer process was created in 1856. This process helped make the mass production of steel way more cheaper. Due to how inexpensive it was, the creation of railroads was sped up so far that the bessemer process was the main reason for the finishing of railroads leading throughout the west.
Bessemer Process