The United States has utilized innovations and technological advancements to solidify its position as a global superpower. One of the greatest accomplishments the United States can claim is to have put a man on the moon in 1969. In describing the impact of the moon landing, historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. notes, “The one thing for which this century will be remembered 500 years from now was: This was the century when we began the exploration of space” (Launius, 2006). In the 47 years since the moon landing, no other nation has been able to land on the moon marking this as a lasting legacy to American perseverance in the exploration of space. The completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 also showcased American resolve and engineering superiority. Providing maritime access between the Atlantic and the Pacific, the Canal stands today as one of seven wonders of the modern world. …show more content…
From the progression of the machine gun to the development of the atomic bomb and further still to today and stealth aircraft technology, the United States has consistently pushed the envelope on innovation in order to say one step ahead as a military superpower. With this being an online course, one would be remiss to not note the great American accomplishment of creating a computer communication network through the collaboration between the Department of Defense, engineers and scientists during the Cold War.
The flare for thinking outside of the box in the United States could easily be traced back to the founding of the nation. The Founding Fathers were nation building innovators as they wrote the Constitution. American technological innovations have opened the doors to discovery, which has allowed the United States to continue to be a global
It was dubbed The Manhattan Project and consisted of some of the most brilliant physicists at the time such as Albert Einstein. Then, in 1945 arguably the most powerful and controversial technology was developed. This was the nuclear bomb and it completely changed the world forever. This weapon could be used to decimate entire cities and the only time it was ever used during any conflict was in 1945 (Shalett, n.d.). Japan was the target and the bomb left nothing but rubble in its path.
A number of notable technological innovations have taken place between the years 1860-1870 in the United States. In the sphere of communications, a major development was the completion of the first transcontinental telegraph line across North America by Western Union in 1861 (Western Union 2009). Moreover, in 1866, after several failed attempts, the Transatlantic Cable was laid that connected Europe and North America. Before this landmark event, the fastest communication between the two continents had taken at least a week; after the cable was laid, messages could be transmitted instantaneously. The first message was, famously, that “a treaty of peace has been signed between Austria and Prussia” (History Magazine n/d, “Third Time Lucky”,
Technological advancements in the United States between 1865 and 1900 became the primary cause of the Industrial Revolution because a larger amount of products could be produced in better, more efficient ways. Also, less time was needed to create the product. With this continued progress, additional products came to life, and consumerism increased. A large demand caused companies to increase supply, and soon industry began to boom.
The 1920s often referred to as “roaring twenties” is one of the most remarkable periods because of technological advances, and scientific discoveries. Many of the inventions made during the 20s such as Insulin, Penicillin and Traffic Signals have saved numerous lives. With the invention of Vacuum Cleaner, Washing Machine, Electric Dishwasher and Refrigerator household chores have gotten much easier. Due to the advances in technology and scientific discoveries made in the 1920s, inventors and scientists today are able to study the previous work and take the invention one step farther (Inventions in the 1920s).
After the War of 1812, America initially sank into a time of economic regression and the public began to lose faith in the government. The United States was in debt, British products flooded the ports, and many citizens became more concerned of their own welfare compared to the country’s. However, through years of improvement and hard work, the United States began to prove itself once again to the foreign countries. Beginning in the 1800’s, the technological developments began to greatly transformed the United States. At first, many people considered America to be a weak and undeveloped state, however, throughout the years, America slowly began to prove to the other countries that it is becoming a strong and independent state. In the end, America became an industrialized country, domestic trade became popular, and the transportation system in the country was
When Apollo 11 landed on the moon, America surprised the world greatly. While the Soviet Union had sent a man into space before, no man had actually walked on the moon. In the race for space, America and the USSR vied to prove their selves superior by exploring space. Apollo 11’s successful landing placed America
Improvements in agriculture, transportation, and communication between 1790 and 1860 were the stepping stones for a greater America. From the cotton gin, to the steamboat, to the telegraph, new innovations were appearing all over. America had finally begun to spread its wings and fly.
The North had a lot of different technological advances over the South because of their industrial system and transportation system. The North also produced most of the country’s wealth. So that means they had a money to spend to have better technology. Even though North was said to be more advanced the South had some advantages too. The main one was that they were fighting war on familiar territory. They knew where to go and the fastest way to get there. The Northerns just had to guess and pretty much hope for the best. Some of the most experienced and skilled military men were Southerners. Telegraph, hot air balloon, and deadly weaponry were more key pieces of technology that changed the war. The North had another disadvantage because they
The United States built the Panama Canal. The canal was a fifty-mile-long passage that created a shortcut for ships. It cut through the Central American nation of Panama and linked the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. “It was an incredible project, the largest public construction project in US history. The engineering, technical, medical, and scientific challenges were incredible, first having to get disease under control and then figure out whether it should be a sea-level or a lock canal. It was forty miles long and literally cut through the continental divide, so it was extremely difficult” (Greene). The construction of the Panama Canal strengthened the economic dominance, and the rise of the United States naval power in the Western Hemisphere, accomplishing a long-awaited dream to create a route that allowed ships to move easily between the two great oceans.
From the time when the first English colonies were established in North America until now, there has been some form of armed fighting force in place to protect the interests of the United States and its colonial progenitors. During the roughly four centuries in which this fighting force has existed, it has undergone numerous changes of varying degrees of significance. Technological advances have changed the nature of both defensive and offensive warfare, political advances have changed the nature of the relationship between the civilian population and its protectors, and geostrategic shifts have changed the role of the United States military with respect to the rest of the world. The most lasting and meaningful changes have occurred
Technology and music have always been interlinked. As technology improves ways of recording and distributing music improves. Over history we have gone from scratchy records to clear and portable MP3s. New and innovative technology have helped to shape America’s culture as a nation.
The technology of World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, was a big part of the determination of the outcome of the war. Much of the technology was developed during the interwar years. Some of it was developed because of failure and hindrance in war progression, obviously because of inefficient technology. Still some was in the beginning stages of development as the war ended. Though earlier war greatly utilized science, mathematics, and innovation, World War II had the largest impact on the innovation in technology of the current lives of Americans. Furthermore, no war, preceeding or succeeding, was as profoundly affected by science, mathematics, and technology as World War II. Science and technology have always made
One hundred years ago, one of the world’s most beneficial and challenging man-made resources was completed. The Panama Canal is an extraordinary part of world history because it links two oceans and eliminates the hazardous voyage of ship travel around the tip of South America. This exceedingly difficult engineering project is even known to be one of the seven wonders of the industrial world. The canal is still beneficial today, and it will always be an aid to the world. Although the building of the Panama Canal took years of planning, caused disease and death, and cost millions of dollars, it has saved ships 8,000 miles of sailing by cutting through the isthmus of Panama City and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Many of the military technological advancements that have been made in the last 60 years can be attributed to the Cold War. Much of the technology developed during the period of the Cold War is still in use today by the military and government. Advancements in offensive technology are well known to just about everyone in the way of nuclear energy harnessed in the form of the nuclear bomb, but little is known about the battle for information during the Cold War. The Cold War produced some of the most advanced technology used in the fields of detection and reconnaissance in history. The United States’ detection and reconnaissance technology played a major role against communism
America’s space program is undoubtedly one of its greatest modern achievements. Few people cannot recall the famous quote “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” or do not know where it came from. The story leading up to the moment a man walked on the moon, as well as everything that came after, is just as interesting and important as the moment itself. The significance of the history of America’s aeronautics programs cannot possibly be overestimated, and their story is one that is incredibly important to the modern world of today. It would not be the nation that it is, with the technology it possesses, without its crucial involvement in the “space race”. If the technology that sent a man to the moon did not exist, our daily lives would be impacted and basic tools would be missing. Beginning with America’s first official aeronautics organization, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (or NACA) and continuing through to the present day and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (or NASA), the story of America’s aerospace programs is interesting and extremely important. It is a story that spans many years and giant leaps in technology, and involves important locations like Wallops Flight Facility and Kennedy Space Center. From the early beginnings of NACA and Wallops, and continuing on to the rise and success of NASA and Kennedy Space Center, aeronautics