Industrial Revolution Vocab Unit 3

Study Notes

Interchangeable Parts

Introduced during the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, transforming manufacturing by replacing craftsmanship with machine production.
Popularized by Eli Whitney, allowing large-scale production of firearms with pre-manufactured parts.
Enabled unskilled workers to assemble products quickly and affordably while simplifying repairs and replacements.

Cotton Gin

Patented by Eli Whitney in 1794, revolutionizing cotton production by expediting seed removal from cotton fiber.
By the mid-19th century, cotton became the leading U.S. export, impacting the economy and social structure.
Justified the expansion of slavery in the South despite growing abolitionist sentiments.
Whitney’s innovations led him to secure a contract for U.S. government muskets, further advancing the idea of interchangeable parts.

Turnpike

A toll road funded by traveler fees at tollgates, named after the hinged bar that prevented access until payment was made.

Erie Canal

Completed in 1821, the canal stretched 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo, creating a navigable route from New York City to the Great Lakes.
Significantly reduced transportation costs by 95% compared to horse-drawn carts and eliminated the need for portage.
Encouraged population growth in western New York, facilitated westward expansion, and cemented New York City’s status as a major port.

Samuel Slater

Known as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution" and "Father of the Factory System" for his role in introducing British textile technology to the U.S.
After training as a textile machinery apprentice in England, he designed America’s first textile mills, despite export restrictions on designs.

Cyrus McCormick

Inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, credited with creating the mechanical reaper.
This horse-drawn device dramatically improved crop harvesting efficiency, replacing traditional scythes and fostering agricultural expansion.

Samuel Morse

Originally a painter, Morse became an inventor known for developing a single-wire telegraph system and co-inventing Morse code.
His inventions revolutionized communication across the United States, connecting distant regions and replacing previous methods like the Pony Express.

Eli Whitney

An influential American inventor recognized for the cotton gin and advancements in interchangeable parts and milling machines.
The cotton gin played a pivotal role in making cotton a lucrative crop, solidifying the economic reliance on slavery in the Antebellum South.

Steam Engine

A heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam, first invented by James Watt in 1781.
Early steam engines powered various manufacturing machinery and evolved to facilitate industrial growth by enabling larger-scale production.

Description

Test your knowledge on key vocabulary from Unit 3, focusing on the Industrial Revolution. This quiz includes definitions related to major concepts, such as interchangeable parts and their impact on manufacturing. Perfect for students learning about this transformative period.