Week 1 History Essay

         The three inventions that I learned about this week are the suspension bridge, the fire hydrant, and the locomotive. The suspension bridge was invented by James Finly in Pennsylvania in 1801. This new bridge was cheaper to build and safer and more efficient for travel. It was also very strong, so it could be built to connect longer distances. It reduced travel time and shipping costs. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California is an example of a suspension bridge that is still used today.. Next I learned about the fire hydrant. It was invented by Fredreick Graff in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. People could now put out fires easier and faster. The fire hydrant has saved many lives throughout history and still does to this day. Lastly, I learned about the locomotive. The locomotive is the engine part of a train that burns combustible material ( coal, wood, or oil ) to make steam. Richard Trevithink invented the locomotive in England, and it was first used in 1801. He got his ideas from Thomas Newcomen’s steam engine, but Newcomen’s engine used low-pressure steam. He thought high-pressure steam was too dangerous to use, but Trevithink disagreed. After Trevithink’s steam locomotive was invented, it enabled efficient, long-distance, mass transport of people and goods. The locomotive made travel and trade much easier, and helped people move around the country. Out of these three inventions, my favorite is the locomotive. I loved learning how the train was able to move.