American history

Technology and invention

During the first half of the nineteeth century, from about the 1810s to the 1860s, the direction of American progress began to change. Although factories continued to expand during this period, much greater strides were being taken in invention. The efficiency and quality of American manufacturing and agriculture during this period was improved by a wide range of practical inventions.

Here are some of the more important inventors of the period (arranged by approximate order of patent):

• Richard Chenaworth — Invented the cast-iron plow using three separate pieces, allowing the replacement of individual parts
  
  
• John Deere — Invented the steel plow, keeping the soil from sticking to the plow and making it easier to farm in the rich prairies of the Midwest
  
  
• Eli Whitney — Invented both the cotton gin, which made cotton a protitable stable crop in the South, and the jig for guiding tools, which was a major step towards the development of interchangeable parts
  
  
• Samuel Colt — Invented the revolver, the first repeating pistol
  
  
• Samuel Morse — Invented the telegraph, revolutionizing long-range communication
  
  
• Elisha Otis — Invented the passenger elevator, which would eventually allow for the development of skyscrapers
  
  
• George Pullman — Created the Pullman sleeping car, the first train car made for long-distance travel