The book America passages gives a detailed description of the cause and consequences relationships as time passed by. The writers of the book specifically, show how events emerge from other events or from the actions of the people in a sequential manner; they also show how unrelated events occur in close proximity: simultaneity and contingency.These events and personal decisions influence the outcome of historical events as they unveil throughout all the time. In explaining the historical events the author uses picture, maps and graphs which makes the whole book interesting.
Apart fro the technical changes between 1877 and1940 the book also has history dating to the pre-Colombia period all the to the recent Clinton ages.The technical changes in that occurred had a direct effect on the political service of the United States army- the navy. Technical change gave way for the increased need for skilled workers and engineers. Technological developments in the United States established it as the most powerful nation technologically.The rapid technological of the United States is attributed to availability of transport, the natural resources were available in plenty, they also had ready land and enough labor and most importantly they had ready and enough capital.
The book illustrates clearly that the period between 1865 and 1940 experienced the greatest technological advancement this transformed the united states to an industrial power in the world elevating it from a low agricultural economy. Consequently technological development made America become the largest producer of industrial products accounting for one third of the worlds output.Technological changes in the United States were mainly in the field of steel manufacturing, there were also developments in chemistry, communication tools for example telegraph and telephone, also development in assembly line technology and also in management of science. In 1877 Graham Bell got rights for equipment that would transmit sound through electric cables.
This lead to enormous development in communication industry. Telephones improved the efficiency of communication.In the field of steel manufacturing in 1855, the Bessemer process was invented. The discovery of the process enabled the easy and fast removal of impurities for example silicon from molten steel during the refining process.
This increased the speed of steel production reduced labor and increased the scale of production. This resulted to industrial revolution. Consequently it lead to the improvement of infrastructure because it became easy and cheap to construct bridges because steel was readily available.Technical development in the transport sector involved the innovation of the freight trains that could carry tones of cargo.
The locomotive technology lead to the development of much longer trains. These freight trains are highly economical and more efficient that transporting such cargo by road in cases where long distances are covered.During the both World War I and World War II there were advancements in weaponry. There were technical advancements on weapons especially in the World War II.
Jet fighters with high power were used during the war replacing the aircrafts that were initially used in war.During this time span there was the innovation of steam propulsion which consequently replaced the sail. As a result it lead to the coming into play of engineers that were highly paid and skilled replacing the production workers that was moderately skilled these new class of skilled workers were responsible for the repair and maintenance if the new technology machines.The petroleum industry also had technical improvements. There was improvement in drilling machines. Consequently, the methods of refining were also improved.
As a result the demand for kerosene and lubricants for vehicles greatly improved in the early 1870s. To illustrate the power of the technology the quantity of refined oil produced rose from 26 million barrels in the period around 1890 to 420 million barrels in 1920.The automobile industry also underwent significant changes courtesy of the Duryea brothers in the early 1890. Although these vehicles were heavy and expensive they were a great advancement to the modern vehicles.Technical advancements in computing and computer science involve an increase in computer security; there was an also increased human computer interaction and programming language.
There is also increase in computer processing speed. As a result the services offered in various offices greatly improved in terms of service and the service time.ConclusionsThe period between 1865 and 1940 covers the ages of great technical advancements. The World War I and the World War II fueled the developments so as to suit the united stated during the time of the war. Consequently the period after the cold war also lead to innovations especially in the weaponry industry.
ReferencesEdward L. Ayers, Lewis L. Gould, David M.Oshinky, and Jean R.Soderlund (2006) Thomson Advantage Books: American Passages: A history of the united states.Houghton Mifflin.
Bennet, W. and Faragher, J (2007) America: the last best hope in 2 volume. The American Heritage Encyclopedia of American History. New York: Oxford university press.
