First Industrial Revolution Inventions

Question 1

Cotton Gin
1. invented by
2. purpose/improved what
3. effect on slavery

Answer 1

1. invented by Eli Whitney
2. made preparing cotton for sale easier and faster
3. increased demand for slavery

Question 2

Steam Engine
1. invented by
2. purpose/improved what

Answer 2

1. invented by Robert Fulton
2. used for ships to travel faster, saving time and money in transporting people and goods upstream

Question 3

Mechanical Reaper
1. invented by
2. purpose/improved what

Answer 3

1. invented by Cyrus McCormick
2. made collecting ripe food easier and faster

Question 4

Steel Plow
1. invented by
2. purpose/improve what

Answer 4

1.invented by John Deere
2 made it easier and faster to plant seeds

Question 5

Telegraph
1. invented by
2. purpose/improved what

Answer 5

1 invented by Samuel Morse
2 sent messages across the country, drastically sped up communication

Question 6

Which invention do you think benefitted the North US the most? Explain.

Answer 6

Possible answers:
-steam engine: distribute their products faster to the South and other countries
-Mechanical reaper and steel plow: help Pennsylvania plant and harvest wheat faster
-telegraph: increased communication

Question 7

Which invention do you think benefitted the South US the most? Why?

Answer 7

Possible answers:
-cotton gin: sell cotton faster
-steam engine: sell their goods upstream to the North
-mechanical reaper and steel plow: plant and harvest things faster
telegraph: increase communication

Question 8

How do you think new inventions increased Westward Expansion? Why?

Answer 8

Possible answers:
-as the country made more money with the inventions, there was a greater demand for natural resources. Expanding West could increase natural resources, earning the US citizens more money.
-land easier to cultivate with steel plow and mechanical reaper, can afford to move to the West start anew without worrying about money as much?
-anything as long as you use an invention and defend your answer

Question 9

How did the inventions affect slavery? What problems do you think the inventions caused later on in history?

Answer 9

-increased slavery because the South wanted to make as much money as possible
-as people started to expand West, they debated whether or not to make the state a free state or a slave state
-answer should be fine as long as you provide an example of the invention and explain