World History Inventions Unit

Robert Bakewell

Alexander Graham Bell

Henry Bessemer

Samuel Crompton
Thomas Edison
Robert Fulton
James Hargreaves
John Kay
John McAdam
Cyrus McCormick
Samuel B. Morse
Isaac M. Singer
George Stephenson
Charles Townsend
Jethro Tull
Richard Trevithick
James Watt
Eli Whitney
Louis Pasteur

 

Henry Bessemer--Steel production

Discovering Collection -- Bessemer Process
Includes: Henry Bessemer, Thomas Edison (see multimedia too), James Watt (see multimedia too), Eli Whitney, & Louis Pasteur (see multimedia too).
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The American Experience--Carneige--Steel Mill Tour
Short, but well written explanation of the Bessemer Process and its impact on the world.
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Definition of Bessemer Process
Nice description of the process with a line drawing demonstrating the machine used.
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BBC: Historic Figures: Henry Bessemer
Highlights of the contributions of Henry Bessemer.
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Inventor of the Week: Henry Bessemer
Highlights of the contributions of Henry Bessemer.
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Thomas Edison--Light Bulb, Research lab

Grolier Encyclopedia
Includes: Henry Bessemer, Eli Whitney, Louis Pasteur, Thomas Edison, & James Watt.
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The inventions of Thomas Edison
Features a paragraph on the lightbulb as well as the other inventions occuring in Edison's research lab.
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Inventor of the Week: Thomas Edison
Highlights of the contributions of Henry Bessemer.
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Eli Whitney--Interchangeable parts

Discovering Collection --Eli Whitney
Includes: Henry Bessemer, Thomas Edison (see multimedia too), James Watt (see multimedia too), Eli Whitney, & Louis Pasteur (see multimedia too).
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Interchangeable Parts
From Engines of our Ingenuity.
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From Interchangeable Parts to Visual Basic, a Brief History.
Discusses not only the history of interchangeable parts, but applications in use today.
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Inventor of the Week: Eli Whitney
Highlights of the contributions of Henry Bessemer.
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Eli Whitney Started Spiral Toward Sprawl with Fast Gun
Article published by the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
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James Hargreaves--Spinning Jenny

Discovering Collection -- James Hargreaves
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Spinning Jenny-James Hargreaves
From About.com, this explains the invention, gives a picture and details about Hargreaves life.
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Charles Townsend-Crop Rotation

 

Jethro Tull-Seed Drill

Discovering Collection -- Jethro Tull
Includes a biography and a picture of Tull's Seed Drill.

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BBC Online-Norfolk
Jethro Tull and his seed drill invention are described here.

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Robert Bakewell-Mutton Output

Robert Bakewell (1725 - 1795)
From the BBC, this site describes Bakewell's breeding experimentation.
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James Watt--Steam Engine

Discovering Collection -- James Watt
Includes: Henry Bessemer, Thomas Edison (see multimedia too), James Watt (see multimedia too), Eli Whitney, & Louis Pasteur (see multimedia too).
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BBC: Historic Figures: James Watt
Critical essay of the work James Watt did to refine the steam engine as well as the delays in advancements he caused.
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James Watt
Modern sketch of the steam engine process developed by Watt.
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John Kay- Flying Shuttle

Flying Shuttle
From About.com, describing the invention of the flying shuttle and information about John Kay's life.
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Samuel Crompton-Spinning Mule

Spinning Mule - Samuel Crompton
From About.com, describing the invention of the spinning mule and information about Samuel Crompton's life.
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Spinning Mule
Brief description of the uses of the Spinning Mule, showing the production of cotton in the industrial revolution.
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Robert Fulton-Steamboat

Discovering Collection -- Robert Fulton
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Steamboat Primer
While this does not discuss Robert Fulton, it has a great graphic of how a steam engine works.
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John McAdam-Roads

John Loudon McAdam, Road Engineer (1756-1836)
Description of the mcadam road and how it differed from previous road construction.
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Richard Trevithick-High Pressure Steam Engine

Richard Trevithick 1771-1833
The contributions of Trevithick to the steam engine process and industrialization are summarized here..
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High Pressure Steam Engine
High-pressure engine built by Richard Trevithick in 1811. This compact engine was built for thrashing and chaff cutting duties in agriculture--not all steam engines were destined for heavy industrial and manufacturing use.
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George Stephenson-Steam blast locomotive

George Stephenson, 1781-1848
The biography of George Stephenson and his contributions to the railroad industry..
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The Blutcher
Description of the first steam locamotive invented by George Stephenson.
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Isaac M. Singer-Sewing Machine

Isaac M. Singer, 1811-1875
The biography of Isaac Singer and his development of the home sewing machine.
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Singer Company History
Timeline with graphics illustrating the development of products for the Singer Sewing Company.
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Cyrus McCormick- Reaper

McCormick Invents the Reaper, 1831
Summary of the invention of the Reaper. Look under the tab labeled Multimedia for an illustration of the McCormick Reaper.
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Samuel B. Morse-Telegraph

The History of the Telegraph and Telegraphy
Summarization of Morse and development of the telegraph.
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Morse Develops Electric Telegraph, 1836
Check out the multimedia image of the Morse Code.
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Alexander Graham Bell-Telephone

The First Transcontinental Telephone Call Is Made, April, 1915
From Discovering Collection, this article summarizes the first call made. The Multimedia tab has 2 photos of Bell.
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Smithsonian: Telegraph
Brief description of the invention of the telegraphy with a wonderful photo.
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Louis Pasteur--

Discovering Collection -- Louis Pasteur
Includes: Henry Bessemer, Thomas Edison (see multimedia too), James Watt (see multimedia too), Eli Whitney, & Louis Pasteur (see multimedia too).
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Grolier Encyclopedia
Includes: Hen
ry Bessemer, Eli Whitney, Louis Pasteur, Thomas Edison, & James Watt.
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Germ Theory
From ABC-CLIO World History database
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The Life and Times of Louis Pasteur
From a lecture by David V. Cohn
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BBC: Historic Figures: Louis Pasteur
The contributions to health and medicine from Pasteur.
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Inventor of the Week: Louis Pasteur
Highlights of the contributions of Henry Bessemer.
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updated 10/26/06