New inventions and technologies played an important role in the Industrial Revolution. They changed the way things were powered, how goods were manufactured, how people communicated, and the way goods were transported. These new developments allowed the industrial revolution to grow rapidly and spread throughout Europe and the United States.
New Power Technologies
James Watt (1736-1819) by Unknown
In the early part of the Industrial Revolution natural power sources such as water and wind were used as power. Later, new power technologies such as a steam power and electricity played a major role in allowing the Industrial Revolution to grow.
Steam Power
Steam power had been around for a while, but in 1781 James Watt invented a new type of steam engine that could be used to power machines in factories. This allowed factories to be located anywhere. Throughout the 1800s steam engines grew bigger and more powerful. They were used to not only power factories, but also in transportation to power steamboats and trains.
Electricity
Electricity became important during the Second Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. Electric lights allowed factories to stay open longer and produce more goods.
The Spinning Jenny Source: Popular Science Monthly Volume 39 (1891)
Textile Technology
The Industrial Revolution began in the textile industry. One of the first major inventions was the "spinning jenny" invented by James Hargreaves in England in 1764. In 1779, Samuel Crompton made improvements with the "spinning mule." The Industrial Revolution began in the United States with the opening of Slater's Mill in 1793. Other inventions included the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 and the sewing machine by Elias Howe in 1846.
Communications
The ability to communicate across long distances improved dramatically during the Industrial Revolution. It began with the invention of the electrical telegraph by Samuel Morse in 1844. This system allowed for messages to be transmitted much quicker and cheaper than old methods. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone which changed the way people communicated forever.
Transportation
An Early Steam Locomotive Source: Mechanics magazine, 1829
The Industrial Revolution brought about the need for improved transportation. Large amounts of goods needed to be shipped from factories to stores throughout the country. One of the first successful steamboats was developed by Robert Fulton in 1807. Steamboats were soon used to carry goods and passengers along rivers throughout the United States.
The steam locomotive was invented in the early 1800s. Trains became one of the most important modes of transportation during the Industrial Revolution. the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States was completed in 1869.
Interesting Facts About Inventions and Technology During the Industrial Revolution
Englishman Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer process in 1856. It allowed for steel to be mass-produced cheaply.
Thomas Edison invented the first practical incandescent light bulb in 1879.
Isaac Singer made improvements on the sewing machine and produced one of the first practical sewing machines for home use.
In 1853, Elisha Otis invented a safety break for elevators. This allowed for the practical use of elevators enabling buildings to be built much taller.
The Erie Canal was completed from Lake Erie to the Hudson River in 1825.
