Topic Midterm Video Review Project Discussion Group 5
Short Summary:
This video presentation reviews three modules on the history of American engineering. Module one focuses on the Erie Canal, highlighting its role not only as a transportation marvel but also as a training ground for early American engineers, exemplified by John B. Jervis's self-taught career. Module two examines the growth and formalization of engineering in the 19th century, discussing the impact of industrialization, the rise of corporations, the Gilded Age's corruption, and the resulting formation of professional engineering societies. The module also addresses the expanding role of engineering education and its limited accessibility to minorities. Module three explores the reciprocal relationship between invention and infrastructure, using examples like Edison's Menlo Park and Tesla's Wardenclyffe Tower to illustrate how institutional support and corporate alignment shaped technological advancement. The presentation emphasizes the evolution of invention from individual pursuits to systematic, institutionalized processes.
Detailed Summary:
Module 1: The Erie Canal and the Birth of American Engineering: This section uses the Erie Canal as a case study to demonstrate how early American engineering developed. It wasn't solely about solving a national transportation problem (connecting Western farms to Eastern markets) but also about creating a new pathway into engineering careers. The presentation highlights John B. Jervis, a self-taught engineer who rose through the ranks by learning on the job, emphasizing the "learning by doing" aspect of early American engineering. The role of foreign expertise (e.g., William Weston) in introducing new techniques is also mentioned, along with the adaptation of these techniques to local conditions. The canal's impact on reshaping trade routes and creating economic winners and losers is also discussed. A key takeaway is that the Erie Canal fostered a practical, self-made, and mission-driven engineering culture.
Module 2: 19th Century Engineering: Growth, Formalization, and Status Concerns: This section covers the period from the 1850s to the early 1900s, a time of rapid population growth and industrialization. The rise of large corporations and the resulting corruption of the Gilded Age are discussed, along with the subsequent Progressive Era reforms. The shift from government-funded projects to corporate employment is highlighted, leading to the creation of professional societies like the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Institute of Mining Engineers (AIME) to balance professional and business interests. The Morrill Land-Grant Act's impact on expanding engineering education is examined, contrasting the theoretical French style with the practical British style. The section also addresses the limited access to engineering education for minorities, contrasting the success stories of individuals like Kate Gleason and Elijah McCoy with the overall exclusionary nature of the field. Key quotes highlight the conflict between professional independence and bureaucratic loyalty, and the stark underrepresentation of women in engineering.
Module 3: Invention and Infrastructure: A Reciprocal Relationship: This section focuses on the interplay between invention and infrastructure in shaping American technological history. It contrasts the individualistic approach of inventors like Edison and Tesla with the later institutionalization of invention within corporations and the military. Bell Labs is presented as a prime example of a system integrating science, engineering, and production. The presentation challenges the linear model of innovation, arguing that applications can often inspire research. Tesla's Wardenclyffe Tower project is used to illustrate how even groundbreaking ideas can fail without sufficient corporate backing. Edison's Menlo Park is presented as a model for organized, team-based invention. The section concludes by emphasizing that innovation requires vision, systems, and institutional support, highlighting the vast networks behind technological advancements and noting the significant contributions of women inventors, citing over 1,900 patents before 1887.