Technological Breakthroughs Flashcards

Flashcards reviewing key inventions and their impact from the lecture notes.

First successful American steamboat, invented by John Fitch in 1787.

Steamboat

Simplified process of separating fiber from seeds; helped make cotton a profitable staple of southern agriculture, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793.

Cotton Gin

Facilitated manufacture of interchangeable parts, invented by Eli Whitney in 1798.

Jig for guiding tools

First American steam engine; led to manufacture of high-pressure engines used throughout eastern United States, invented by Oliver Evans in 1802.

Steam Engine

First iron plow to be made in three separate pieces, thus making possible replacement of parts, invented by Richard B. Chenaworth in 1813.

Cast-Iron Plow

First steam locomotive built in America, invented by Peter Cooper in 1830.

Railroad Locomotive

Mechanized harvesting; early model could cut six acres of grain a day, invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831.

Reaper

First successful repeating pistol, invented by Samuel Colt in 1836.

Revolver

Steel surface kept soil from sticking; farming thus made easier on rich prairies of Midwest, invented by John Deere in 1837.

Steel Plow

Made rubber much more useful by preventing it from sticking and melting in hot weather, invented by Charles Goodyear in 1839.

Vulcanization of Rubber

Reduced pain and risk of shock during operations, performed by Crawford W. Long in 1842.

First Administered Ether in Surgery

Made long-distance communication almost instantaneous, invented by Samuel F. B. Morse in 1844.

Telegraph

First practical machine for automatic sewing, invented by Elias Howe in 1846.

Sewing Machine

Improved method of removing water from sugar cane; revolutionized sugar industry and was later applied to many other products, invented by Norbert Rillieux in 1846.

Vacuum Evaporator

Printed an entire sheet in one motion, vastly speeded up printing process, invented by Richard M. Hoe in 1847.

Rotary Printing Press

Improved method of converting iron into steel (usually known as Bessemer process because English inventor had more advantageous patent and financial arrangements), invented by William Kelly in 1851.

"Air-Boiling" Process

Improved movement in buildings; when later electrified, stimulated development of skyscrapers, invented by Elisha G. Otis in 1853.

Passenger Elevator

Initiated oil industry in the United States, invented by Edwin L. Drake in 1859.

First American Oil Well

First sleeping-car suitable for long-distance travel, invented by George M. Pullman in 1859.

Pullman Car

Hot-air Balloon

Invented 1783

Canning Foods

Invented 1787

For roads, invented in 1815.

McAdam Paving Process

Photography

Invented 1822

Erie Canal

Built 1825

Cement

Invented 1824

Safety Match

Invented 1844

Pneumatic Tire (air filled)

Invented/In use 1845

Safety Pin

Invented 1846

Ice-Making Machine

Invented 1850

Dirigible Airship

invented 1852

Gasoline Engine

Invented 1860

Bicycle

Invented 1860

Typewriter

Invented 1867