Inventors of the Age

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) Industrialization and the Rise of Big Business, 1870-1900 Inventors of the Age An inventive and enterprising age characterized the late nineteenth century. Building on the British Industrial Revolution of the middle of the 20th century and responding to the growing need for comfort and efficiency from Americans, the nation became engulfed in an innovation frenzy, with more individuals than ever working on their great ideas. In hindsight, the nineteenth century's discovery of electricity and steam significantly enhanced human and machine power, paving the way for further advancements later in the century. Americans looked for ways to deal with a daily existence that was becoming more complicated. Even though the inventors themselves were mostly ignorant of how profoundly their ideas would alter people's lives, inventions frequently offered the solutions. To get a sense of the magnitude of this creative fervor, think of the U.S. The Patent Office, which only had 276 innovations listed in its first ten years of operation (1790). The agency had granted sixty thousand patents by the year 1860. However, that figure skyrocketed to about 450,000 between 1860 and 1890, and then increased by another 235,000 in the last decade of the century. Even though many of these patents were in vain, a few of them went on to become key innovations in the growth of large business and the nation's transition to an industrial economy, where the majority of Americans could finally achieve their yearning for plenty, comfort, and efficiency. Inspired by the general spirit of ingenuity in American culture, the late nineteenth century was a spectacular time for innovation and business. Utilizing the framework established by the British Industrial Revolution in the middle of the 18th century, Americans aimed to enhance their standard of living by adopting novel concepts and innovations. People all throughout the country became caught up in an invention frenzy as the country grew and the demands for efficiency and comfort increased, everyone trying to realize their own unique creative ideas. During this period, the revolutionary powers of steam and electricity became apparent, significantly enhancing the capacities of both humans and machines. In addition to revolutionizing industry, these technical developments had a significant impact on day-to-day living by providing answers to the ever-more complicated problems that individuals encountered. The path of American civilization was significantly shaped by the ideas of these people, even if the innovators themselves frequently had no idea the full influence that their works would have. The astounding expansion of the U.S. Patent Office serves as a testament to the scope of this creative frenzy. With just 276 patents awarded in its first 10 years of operation (starting in 1790), the Patent Office witnessed very few advancements in its early years. But in the next decades, this number skyrocketed. The office had granted an astounding sixty thousand patents by 1860, indicating the growing inventive spirit that was sweeping the country. With around 450,000 patents awarded between 1860 and 1890 and an additional 235,000 in the last decade of the century, this tendency only accelerated. A small number of these patents would go on to be crucial to the emergence of large corporations and the shift to an industrial economy, even if many of them may have eventually looked unimportant or even forgotten. These inventions brought wealth, comfort, and efficiency to millions of Americans by laying the foundation for previously unheard-of growth and prosperity. In fact, the American economy and society at large underwent a significant upheaval in the late nineteenth century. Big business's ascent, spurred by technical advancement and an entrepreneurial mindset, completely changed a variety of industries, from manufacturing to transportation. Pioneering innovators and businesspeople grab chances to profit from the market's need for novel goods and services, propelling the country's economic growth and urbanization. Moreover, the labor and societal dynamics underwent tremendous transformation throughout this industrialization era. In pursuit of better job prospects, millions of Americans moved from rural to urban regions as companies grew and manufacturing methods became increasingly automated. Cities grew rapidly as a result of this mass migration, which also helped the middle class flourish. In summary, the late nineteenth century was a pivotal period in American history that brought about unparalleled invention, industrialization, and economic expansion. The ambitions of Americans for greater affluence and efficiency were realized thanks to the invention-friendly culture that characterized this era and created the groundwork for the emergence of large business and the shift to an industrial economy.