Source: Telegraph Register Patent Model, The Smithsonian Institute
A nation's infrastructure consists of the basic support systems needed to keep an economy going; these systems include communication and transportation. Throughout history, the infrastructure of the United States has become stronger, lending to its status as a world leader. The modes of communication and transportation in the United States have changed over time. Communication is important for human interaction, but it is also important in conducting business. Effective communication has been a key component to the economic development of the United States.
Examples of early communication are the telegraph and telephone. These inventions not only made communication between people faster and easier, but inventions such as these facilitated the growth of business in the United States.
Source: Telegraph Register Patent Model, The Smithsonian Institute
Many years before texting and emailing was the speedy way to communicate with others, an American inventor named Samuel Morse created a method that allowed Americans to communicate with each other at the fastest pace that people had ever experienced. In 1838, Morse invented the telegraph machine, which used a system of dots and dashes to deliver messages of up to 10 words in less than a minute. In 1844, he built a cable line from Baltimore to Washington D.C. to send messages by telegraph.
The map below illustrates the location of telegraph stations in the United States as of 1853, nine years after the first telegraph was sent. Florida was the only state east of the Mississippi that was not connected by telegraph. By 1861, telegraph lines crossed all of the United States. By 1866, the transatlantic cable connected the United States and Europe.
Click the bullets below the map to see the different views of the map.
Answer the following questions in your notes.
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Based on the list of the telegraph stations shown on the map and the fact that by 1861 telegraph wires crossed the United States, it is evident that the telegraph improved communication.
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The telegraph allowed people to conduct business in locations across the country and on other continents.
The telephone, invented by Alexander Graham Bell, facilitated even better communication by adding the feature of voice. Since its invention, the telephone has been an essential part of American society.
Source: Box Telephone, The Smithsonian Institute
Click on the link below to view a photo gallery of inventions in communication in the United States.
Improvements to the telephone continued, and other modes of communication were developed that impacted the way that Americans communicate with each other and with people from around the world. These inventions have led to the communication that Americans use today.
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Smartphones In the past few decades, the mobile phone has become essential to almost all aspects of American society. Recent innovations in the creation of smartphones have made it possible for people to send and receive data, access entertainment, and conduct business. |
Laptops Laptops are personal computers that are mobile and can be used in many locations. The first laptops with a “flip” factor were created in the 1980s. Since that time, laptops have evolved into much smaller, lighter devices with increased functionality. |
Television The television has become one of the most popular modes of communication. A wide audience can access the information on the television; therefore it has a great impact on its audience. |
One of the most important systems in the infrastructure of the United States is transportation. Take a look at the timeline below to see the changes in transportation over time.
Click on each image to enlarge each item and read more about it. Complete the activities that follow.
By the late 1800s, the railroad industry had become essential to the booming industries that blossomed during the Industrial Revolution. The railroads were used to transport goods across the country. Noting that the railroad industry was crucial to the American economy, the U.S. government became involved in the industry to protect the interest of Americans.
In 1862, the United States Congress passed the first Railroad Act; the government contracted two companies to construct the Transcontinental Railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad Company started constructing the railroad in Omaha, Nebraska, and worked west; meanwhile the Central Pacific Railroad Company started in Sacramento, California, and headed east.
The last spike of the Transcontinental Railroad was placed on May 10, 1869. The nailing of the last spike made history since it was the first time a continuous train route linked the eastern and western United States together.
The Transcontinental Railroad connected the territory between California and the Missouri River. One of the biggest benefits of the Transcontinental Railroad was that it dramatically cut the travel time through this region from months down to a matter of days.
Source: US Pacific Railroads 1887, Wikipedia
The creation of the Transcontinental Railroad increased interstate commerce in the United States.
Planes, trains, and automobiles are just a few examples of transportation in modern America. The rail system has been the most constant mode of transportation since it was first introduced in the United States. The rail system serves as a means to transport people and goods.
Click on the link below to watch a short video about the evolution of the train.
Answer the following questions in your notes.
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Based on the list of the telegraph stations shown on the map and the fact that by 1861 telegraph wires crossed the United States, it is evident that the telegraph improved communication.
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There were new cities built around the stops along the railroad; building materials were brought to build new cities. Crops were introduced to new parts of the country.
