Unit: Industrialization: Inventions/Innovations

This invention increased cotton production and the need for slaves. This invention helped to remove the seed from cotton at a rate faster than pulling the seed by hand.

• steel plow

• textile mills

• cotton gin

This invention helped to increase the efficiency in cultivation and crop production. This invention helped to break up the land to prepare it for planting.

• steel plow

• cotton gin

• textile mills

This invention helped to lower the cost of transportation, increased tourism, and helped to lower the cost of fares. This invention was powered by steam and ran on water.

• railroad

• National Road

• steamboat

This invention helped to improve mass production and increased employment in factories and increased the use of unskilled labor. This invention consisted of make like parts.

• textile mills

• interchangeable parts

• bessemer steel process

This invention increased the North's dependence on the South and increased the use of child and women labor. These were mainly located in the North.

• textile mills

• bessemer steel process

• cotton gin

This invention helped to fuel the construction of the railroad. This process was used to produce steel.

• textile mills

• interchangeable parts

• bessemer steel process

This invention helped to promote long distance communication and increased communication to distant locations. Communication was more instantaneous.

• textile mills

• railroads

• telegraphs

This invention connected the east with California, encouraged the building of telegraph lines, and increased transportation and trade.

• steamboat

• National Road

• railroads (Transcontinental Railroad)

This invention helped promote the growth of cities in the Northeast and reduced the cost of goods from the Mid-West to the east.

• Erie Canal

• Steamboat

• Railroads

This invention helped to promote trade and made settlement easier to the West. In addition, this invention was the first improved highway built by the federal government. It connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers.

• Erie Canal

• National Road

• Transcontinental Road