The Revolution Begins: Steam Engines,Railroads, and Steamboats

Trevithick
1. created modern railroad "demonstrated his concept of locomotive (an engine that moves under its own power) which was essentially a steam engine mounted on wheels"
2. In 1808 built a little circular railway in London, called Cath-Me-Who-Can”. Thought people be thrilled to travel at fifteen miles per hour
  1. Public stayed away because they thought is was danergous
Locomotive
1. Importance
  1. “In 1755 James Watt set off from Glasgow, Scotland, to London, England, to become a maker of scientific instruments. He traveled by horse, and the trip took twelve days. About a century later, a passenger riding a railroad powered by steam engine could make the trip in about twelve hours” (pg.51).
  2. “Transportation [was] a critical part of manufacturing” (pg.51).
  3. Made when machines were ment to replace humans or “animal muscle power”
    1. The invention of steam-driven motors became a “reliable, high-speed transportation, in the form of trains”
    2. steam power machines were faster in speed than the animals
  4. “Railroads were critical in advancing the Industrial Revolution. Without them, it would not have been economical to transport coal to factories where steam-powered machines burned coal for fuel. Railroads also made if faster and cheaper to transport raw materials and manufactured goods to distant markets” (pg.50).

Resource summary

	Created by Sean Leong about 8 years ago