America at 250: A Different Kind of Revolution

“…everything tending to establish substantial and permanent order, in the affairs of a country, to increase the total mass of industry… is ultimately beneficial to every part of it.”  -Alexander Hamilton, Report on the Subject of Manufactures, 1791

The phrase “Industrial Revolution” was discussed for years, but popularized by the economic historian Arnold Toynbee in his series of lectures in the 1880s. He was describing the dramatic changes in Great Britain which occurred from 1760 to 1840. The term later caught on with historians and authors describing the massive technological breakthroughs which brought us into the modern age.

England led the western world in the production of textiles- and some budding inventors took notice. James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny in 1764, which made tedious work much easier. Despite England’s ban on exporting technology, Samuel Slater literally memorized the working parts of an English mill, emigrated to America and in 1790 built the first water-powered textile mill here in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Over the following decades, textile mills opened all across New England and spread throughout the nation, creating a new industry. In 1807, Robert Fulton from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania used the concepts behind steam power to develop the steamboat, his ship Clermont cruising up the Hudson River to the amazement of watchers nearby. The steamboat was the next major invention to literally transform commerce and the economies of the United States and countries around the world. Fulton would subsequently take part in another groundbreaking event- the creation of the Erie Canal, which allowed transport of large quantities of heavy goods and commodities more easily.

Another Englishman would have a profound influence on the development of motors through electromagnetism. In his experiments with magnets and electric wires during the 1820s and 1830s, Michael Faraday developed what would be called the first dynamo, the ancestor of all modern power generators. Faraday’s invention was so monumental, decades later a man named Einstein would keep a portrait of him on his wall, considering Faraday one of the most important pioneers in the history of science.

Developments in both communication and transportation literally reconstructed the landscape in America. In his book What Hath God Wrought- The Transformation of America 1815-1848, author Daniel Walker Howe discusses the enormous changes caused by the creation of the steam locomotive by Englishmen Richard Trevithick and George Stephenson and later the telegraph by American Samuel F.B. Morse. The locomotive was an entirely new, faster and more efficient mode of land transportation and railroads quickly crisscrossed the United States. In 1830, there were just 23 miles of railroad track here. By 1860, more than 30,000 miles were laid across the nation. Following them closely were telegraph lines- strategically positioned to provide timely information about the departure and arrival of trains. Towns and then large cities thrived all along the railroads. American commerce blossomed from the 1850s onward due to this synergistic combination. A young Thomas Edison was so fascinated with the telegraph, he nicknamed two of his children “Dot” and “Dash.”

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone – a device many at the time considered unnecessary. In the following decades, Bell’s invention would create an entirely new industry- telecommunications, which would impact virtually every aspect of modern life. Edison was a major player in the development of several new technologies. He holds the record for the most patents in the United States (1,093); worldwide he held an amazing 2,332 patents in fields ranging from electric power to recorded sound and motion pictures, his most famous being the commercial development of the light bulb. Edison’s inventions would, like Bell’s, touch virtually every activity we know today. Henry Ford’s development of the assembly line for mass production of the automobile helped another new industry become a mainstay of modern life.

Looking back, we see signposts along the way which brought us to where we are in the year 2026. In 1916, oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller became the world’s first billionaire, the empire he created affecting the lives of millions of Americans. Now 110 years later, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillionaire, a status so mind-boggling, many cannot fully understand it. What did these men have in common? Besides sharp intelligence and creativity, they both recognized great potential in developing vital products and forging new industries to meet the needs of mankind. The two were also blessed by fate. They lived and worked in America, our system of government allowing people with great ideas, guts and determination to become enormously successful. Their many achievements and those of their compatriots lay a foundation for prosperity in the decades to come.

Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. His 12 books focus mostly on the history of the Chester County/mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s most recent work is “Sandy Flash and the Trail of History,” showcasing the fascinating people, places and events of this region over more than 300 years. His books are available on his website at www.GenePisasale.com and also on Amazon. Gene can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].