5th Grade Industrial Revolution Inventors
Thomas Edison
An inventor and an entrepreneur who established a commercial laboratory at Menlo Park, New Jersey. There he led a team of scientists who were funded by investors in a quest for a variety of inventions. The inventions developed at Menlo Park included the incandescent light bulb and the phonograph. Once the light bulb was perfected, Edison had to develop an entire electrical system to make the light bulb practical and to showcase its potential. He built a power generating station in New York City that provided the power to light office buildings and started a company to provide electricity to the city (1882). Other cities also built power stations and soon many businesses used the electric light. This changed the work habits of Americans who could now work longer hours. Eventually homes were also lit by the incandescent light bulb and labor saving devices were powered by electricity. However it was many years before electricity reached Americans in rural areas. Edison’s invention eventually led to the creation of the General Electric Corporation (early 1890’s).
Who invented the incandescent light bulb?
Thomas Edison
What did Thomas Edison establish?
a commercial laboratory
Where did Thomas Edison establish the commercial laboratory?
Menlo Park, New Jersey
What other invention was developed at Menlo Park?
the phonograph
What did Thomas Edison have to develop once the incandescent light bulb was perfected and why?
He had to develop an entire electrical system. This would make the light bulb practical and showcase its potential.
What did Thomas Edison build?
He built a power generating station.
Where did Thomas Edison build the power generating station?
New York City
What year did Thomas Edison start a company to provide electricity to New York City?
1882
How did the electric light change the work habits of many Americans?
They could now work longer hours.
What areas did not receive electricity for many years?
rural areas
What did the invention of the incandescent light bulb lead to eventually?
the creation of the General Electric Corporation
When did the creation of the General Electric Corporation happen?
early 1890’s
Alexander Graham Bell
invented the telephone and then developed that invention into a major corporation, Bell Telephone Company, that later became American Telephone and Telegraph. ATT eventually provided telephone services to people throughout the United States. Bell also founded a laboratory where he worked with other scientists to develop new inventions.
Who invented the telephone?
Alexander Graham Bell
What major corporation did Alexander Graham Bell develop?
Bell Telephone Company
What did Bell Telephone company later become?
American Telephone and Telegraph
What acronym was created for American Telephone and Telegraph?
ATT
True or False: ATT eventually provided telephone services to people throughout the United States.
True
What else did Bell found?
a laboratory where he worked with other scientists to develop new inventions
The Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur)
They started the aircraft industry with their experiments in manned flight. They experimented with a flying machine for several years before their motorized airplane flew for 12 seconds at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (1903).
What industry did the Wright Brothers start?
the aircraft industry
What did the Wright Brothers experiment with?
manned aircraft
What year did the Wright Brothers’ motorized airplane fly?
1903
Where did the Wright Brothers perform their experiments?
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
How many seconds did the Wright Brother’s motorized aircraft fly?
12
Albert Einstein
He was not an inventor but a physicist who made significant contributions to the world of science and to the emergence of the United States as a world power. Einstein is best known for the theory of relativity (1915). His contributions were made during the first half of the 20th century, not during the same time as Edison and Bell. Einstein’s contributions might best be taught in the context of the world wars. Because he was Jewish, Einstein fled Germany in 1933 and came to the United States. He was instrumental in convincing President Roosevelt to establish the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb. Although the development of the atomic bomb was based on Einstein’s work (E=mc2), Einstein himself did not take part in that project.
What type of scientist was Albert Einstein?
physicist
What is Albert Einstein best known for?
the theory of relativity
What year did Albert Einstein develop the theory of relativity?
1915
What religion does Albert Einstein practice?
Judaism
When someone practices Judaism what does that make him/her?
Jewish
What year did Albert Einstein flee Germany?
1933
Why did Albert Einstein flee Germany?
because he was Jewish
What did Albert Einstein influence President Roosevelt to do?
establish the Manhattan Project
What did the Manhattan Project do?
develop the atomic bomb
What was the development of the atomic bomb based upon?
Einstein’s work (E=mc2)
Did Albert Einstein participate in the Manhattan Project?
no
