PRESENTATION OUTLINE
The Railroads
ON FEBRUARY 28, 1827 THE FIRST RAILROAD WAS OPENED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF PEOPLE AND FREIGHT. THE RAILROAD STRETCHED FROM BALTIMORE, MARYLAND TO OHIO. THE RAILROADS WERE PARALLEL LINES THAT WERE MADE OF STEEL AND WOOD WHICH LEAD TO A CERTAIN DESTINATION. LOCOMOTIVES WERE THE VEHICLES THAT RAN ON THE RAILS WHICH RAN BY THE STEAM WHICH THE EMPLOYEES ON THE TRAIN WOULD SHOVEL COAL. LIFE BEFORE RAILROADS WAS NOT A GOOD TIME TO TRAVEL SOMEWHERE FAR.
Railroad
Affect on Westward Expansion
This transportation lead to rapid growth in the westward expansion people could now live in the frontier without risking their lives to get there. The railroad was the main invention that helped the expansion to the west and today is used for the same reasons mostly transporting cargo but is still used for fast transportation.
Cotton Gin
In 1793 the first cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney. This simple machinery helped take the seeds out of cotton which was a the job of a slave and was a big drop in the south. Life before the cotton gin the slaves had to pull each seed out of every piece of cotton they harvested which would have been a very tiring job. After it was invented the slaves had a much better and less tiring job to do with the cotton but also led to expansion
Affect in The Westward Expansion
The plantation farmers in the south had a easier way to harvest cotton so they expanded west which led to more western areas being used. The cotton gin also increased the number of clothes being made which caused to less deaths in the winters.
The Telegraph
In 1837 the first telegraph was invented by Samuel Morse. It was used for long communications by using a long wire connecting two stations. The communication was called morse code bearing the inventors name Samuel Morse. It used different combinations of dots and dashes. Life before the invention people wanting to communicate would have to walk to them and talk to them face to face or they could send a letter which could take a long time.
Affect in The Westward Expansion
This invention sped up the westward expansion because the people in the west could communicate with people in the east. For example if they needed supplies they could reach them and get them faster than sending mail. The invention in the modern day has evolved into a telephone which uses the electricity through telephone wires.
The Steamboat
On August 22, 1787 the first steamboat was invented. This created a major impact in travel on water. It works by the water being brought into the boat and then heated until it becomes a invisible gas that expands 1,600 times more than water in volume. The negative thing about this boat is that if the river was going up stream and you were going the opposite way it would not move. Life before the steamboat people had to ride on a paddle boat or have mules pull them along the shore.
Affect in the Westward Expansion
In the westward expansions this fast form of water transportation was very important. It helped people get freight and people to destinations by rivers or lakes. The problem with this is that there was not many major rivers running to the south which took a negative impact on transportation.
