1. The NORTH More Technological Advances
Chapter 12, Section 4
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2. Building background
The Industrial and Transportation Revolutions had far- reaching effects on Americans’ lives. They led to still more technological innovations. Some of the new machines and devices speeded up processes for business owners. Others made life easier for people at home.

3. Telegraph speeds communication
In 1832 Samuel F.B. Morse perfected the telegraph – a device that could send information over wires across great distances.
Morse studied electricity and magnetism in the development of the telegraph.
The telegraph sent pulses, or surges, of electric current through a wire.
The telegraph operator tapped a bar (key), that controlled the length of each pulse.
Another operator on the receiving end of the signal could copy and then translate the pulses into a message.

4. Morse code
Morse’s partner, Alfred Lewis Vail, developed a system known as Morse Code – different combinations of dots and dashes that represent each letter of the alphabet.
Dot, Dot, Dot, Dash, Dash, Dash, Dot, Dot, Dot is the distress signal SOS.
The telegraph grew along with the railroad.
Telegraph poles and wires were placed along side of the railroad tracks.

6. Steam power and new factories
At the start of the Industrial Revolution, most factories ran on waterpower. In time, factory owners began using steam power.
Some companies decided to build their factories closer to cities and transportation centers.
This provided easier access to workers, allowing businesses to lower wages.
Being closer to the transportation centers reduced the cost of shipping goods.

7. Improved farm equipment
During the 1830s, technology began transforming the farm as well as the factory.
In 1831 Cyrus McCormick developed a new harvesting machine – the mechanical reaper – allowed quicker and more efficient cutting of wheat.
In 1837 blacksmith John Deere developed a steel-tipped plow – allowed greater ease to plowing thick sod.
The combination of the mechanical reaper and steep- tipped plow resulted in larger crop harvests.

10. Changing life at home
Many other inventions of the Industrial Revolution simply made life easier for everyone.
The sewing machine, first invented by Elias Howe, was one of these invention.
Isaac Singer made improvements to Howe’s design.
In the 1830s, iceboxes cooled with large blocks of ice, permitted the safe storage of fresh food for longer periods of time.