Colonial America was a time of new freedom for people used to being directly under British rule. When given the chance to make discoveries for themselves, colonial settlers used every resource and advantage they had to invent new things to make their life easier, and to create ways to make money or trade for things that they needed or wanted. From the hands-on inventions of the bifocals to the intangible objects such as Daylight Savings Time, we have continued to use many of the inventions from Colonial America.
Ben Franklin - A Pioneer of Inventions
One of the great inventors of the time was Benjamin Franklin. Not only did he make the lightening rod in 1749, which proved extremely important for later years, but he was the inventor of what is now known as the Franklin stove. Of course, we have had many modifications on the Franklin stove but without it, women may still be trying to figure out how to cook over an open fire. Instead now we have life easier then ever thought possible.
Medical Inventions
The medical inventions of Colonial America are staggering as well. Without the modern tools that came about we wouldn't have the thermometer, the dentist's drill, or even anesthesia. Prior to the invention of anesthesia, patients had to either endure the pain or get drunk till they passed out.
Germs were also scientifically researched during these times, which lead to the technology of clean water used to fight scurvy at first, as well as many other diseases. It was also discovered that dirty water used to clean medical tools was a hazard, which made doctors realize that cleanliness in the medical field was of utmost importance, which is still a top priority today.
Inventing the Written Word
When it came to communications, Colonial America was also the time when many inventions made their way into our lives. Things that we take for granted, such as the typed word, became exciting to colonial folks, as it was new to them. It was Johan Gutenberg who first invented the movable type printing press in or around 1439, which later led to the printing of books, letters, and newspapers. In fact, the first newspaper was published in 1609, and called "Public Occurrences." It was printed in Boston, MA. Even Benjamin Franklin got in on this as well and printed "Poor Richard's Almanac," which still exists today.
Getting Around Town - Transportation
Transportation was always a problem until the colonial times. In fact, much of the transportation only consisted of foot, horse, or horse-drawn carriages, which did not leave many options for getting out of town. As the population in Colonial America grew, the need to get around in a more efficient way was a priority. Together the people designed roadways and came up with inventions such as road markers, town distance signs, and other traffic aids.
Sea travel improved as well with the technology of lighter and faster ships. Then, of course, there was one of the greatest inventions ever occurring in the 1700s of steam engines. In the water, the steam engine led the river boats and barges up and down the rivers so that people could start sending goods and taking trips more efficiently and safely. The first submarine was put into action in 1776. Although different then what we think of as a submarine now, it is what led us to modern technology.
From the double-pointed needle invented by Charles Wiesenthal to the glass harmonica invented by Benjamin Franklin, much of what we use today started new back in Colonial America. All good inventions must start somewhere, and arguably there is no question that without the people of Colonial America, we wouldn't have half of what we have now.
Denise Oliveri - Denise has been writing for Suite101 for many years, and enjoys sharing her experiences and knowledge with readers. Her main occupation at ...
