John Fitch And The Industrial Revolution

The industrial revolution was a critical moment in American History. It was a time where the problems and labor of America have solved with science, invention, new technique. One area that was in need of improvement was the mining industry. Mines were always plagued with water, and in order for the excavation to continue, you would need to remove the water. During the days of the past, removing water required some kind of pulley system powered by many horses. The cost to maintain the wellbeing of the horses plus the maintenance of the pulley system outweighed the benefits of getting water out of the mine. A new invention was needed in order to rid mines of water. A man by the name Thomas Savery had a solution to the problem; his solution was

In 1787, John Fitch invented the first steam powered boat, and it was used to travel the Delaware River. However, unlike the quick and successful start of the Locomotive, steam powered boats had some early hiccups. John Fitch’s invention was very expensive and was unable to sell successfully until inventor Robert Fulton took over in 1807. Even still, the steam boat was plagued with space issues, until smaller and lighter engines were introduced by the late 1800s. Additionally, there was still the threat of a boiler explosion happening while in water, causing potential disasters until safer models were built. Even with all of these issues, there was still room for fun with steam boats. Steam showboats were a spectacle of the time, allowing a new luxurious way of travel. There were also steamboat and steam locomotive races to see who would rule the seas, the lands, or overall. With now steam both taking the spotlight of land and sea transportation, it would seem obvious that steam was the driving and lasting force in American innovation, yet the story did not end there. Steam powered boats and locomotives only had a short, but important, moment in American history. By the late 1900s, steam locomotives were now being replaced by electric or diesel ran models; making a quiet, and strictly safeguarded , removal from everyday use. Furthermore,

The steam engine was needed in order to propel technology to where it is today. The early problems of getting water out of a mining shaft set the stage for steam technology to be explored. The power of steam and its untapped potential was slowly discovered by each brilliant mind that took interest in it. Each inventor and innovator took what was previously left and built upon it, vastly increasing its capabilities, its performance, its safety, its uses, and its portability. Additionally, each innovator sought other ways to use steam technology to better everyday lives and impossible tasks. The power of steam was then put on a locomotive as a means of new propulsion, creating a whole new era of land transportation throughout America, Europe, and Asia. At the same time, the power of steam was put on existing boats. Just like the locomotive, steam-powered boats ushered a new era of marine transportation. However, by the mid-1900’s these eras of steam came to a quiet end for the transportation industry. Yet steam technology had not yet been considered in the energy industry until steam technology had to move out of the transportation spotlight. Steam has found its most effective use in the energy industry and has found a place in our everyday lives today. As