IUIF - Key Inventions (Lesson)

Key Inventions

America’s increasing power and prestige stemmed from the growth of 19th century industry. This growth was enhanced by new technologies. With the advent of the telegraph, telephone and light bulb, industries and workers became more productive and efficient and spurred the growth of America in 19th century.

Samuel Morse and the Telegraph

Samuel Morse’s invention drastically changed communication. Morse used electrical current to transmit a series of dots and dashes to communicate messages across long distances. The series of dots and dashes, known as Morse Code, was the means to make the telegraph operate. Suddenly all regions of the United States were connected and information could be transmitted almost immediately nationwide. The telegraph rapidly increased the dispersal of information to businesses that used it for financial gain. Having up-to-date information about stock prices, the price of goods in one region or even infrastructure or logistics could bring businesses and investors advantages.

During the Civil War the telegraph was used by both the Union and Confederacy to communicate current events in real-time from the battlefield. Arguably, Lincoln made better use of the telegraph to coordinate the Union strategies because there were more telegraph lines in the north. The Civil War became the first war to utilize the telegraph as a method of conducting war set the standard for all subsequent wars. While the technology changed, the Morse Code is still used in certain fields today.

On left: Map of Telegraph Lines in 1848, by the New York Herald, Public Domain On Right: Sending Morse Code through a telegraph in 1918. Photo by Bain, Public Domain

Alexander Graham Bell and the Telephone

Bell's Telephone, By Internet Archive Book Images, Public Domain Communication in the 19th century was improved with Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone. The telephone eliminated the need for trained operators of Morse Code. While training was needed for the switchboard operators, the ability to use voice communication greatly increased the telephone’s capabilities over the telegraph for the average American. The telephone became more widely used in homes throughout the country and brought communication efficiency to business and government entities and also to average Americans.

Thomas Edison and the Light Bulb

Thomas Edison was the most prolific of all of the 19th century inventors. Edison established over a thousand patents in his research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. His most notable invention was the incandescent light bulb. The light bulb revolutionized the way we live and work. Factories could operate twenty-four hours a day since daylight was no longer required. Workers and their families utilized night time for activities and entertainment. Greater safety was possible with lighted procedures. The light bulb had direct influence on most industries new and old.

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IMAGES ARE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN