1. How did the nation respond to new technology in the 19 th century? What role did writers play in disseminating ideas about technology? How did technological determinism become dogma in the 19 th century? Click here to begin!

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7. Before beginning this lesson, take a moment to recall our discussion about the rise of industry in 19 th -century America. In the first quarter of the 19 th -century, a series of internal improvements was taking place. Railroads, canals, and a national road were built to knit the country together. Henry Clay and other nationalists believed that urban industrialization was the key to a prosperous future. Clay became the face of what was termed the American System. This is the context for our next lesson on technological determinism.

8. With the rise of industrial capitalism, journalists, popular orators, and politicians hailed “the progress of the age,” reassuring their audiences that technological innovation not only exemplified but actually guaranteed progress. During this era, the evidence of this seemed incontrovertible: railroads, steamships, machine tools, telegraphy, structures of iron and steel, and electricity pointed toward the notion that technology guaranteed progress.

9. “We have universalized all the beautiful and glorious results of industry and skill. We have made them a common possession of the people. … We have democratized the means and appliances of a higher life.” How does the author of this excerpt describe industry? What do you think the author meant when he said: “We have democratized the means and appliances of a higher life”? Are there any dangers in focusing on technological advancements as the source of progress and change? Who or what is left out of the picture?

10. The result was decades of being bombarded with images, writings, and speeches that all advanced the notion of technology being the driving force behind the progress of the century.

11. “The nineteenth century stands out in sublime and encouraging contrast with any that has preceded it.” “It has enlarged and ennobled its bequest [legacy] to an extent unparalleled in history.” What made the 19 th century stand out among all other centuries preceding it to Boyd? “Indeed it may be said that along many of the lines of invention and progress which have most intimately affected the life and civilization of the world, the nineteenth century has achieved triumphs and accomplished wonders equal, if not superior, to all other centuries combined.” By focusing on technology, what is Boyd able to leave out when he talks about the accomplishments of the 19 th century? Would Boyd describe the century using the same words and tone if his focus was on the social and political realities of African Americans or Native Americans? Come up with two alternative ways to summarize the 19 th century without referring to technological advances.

12. For this next exercise, you will be asked to read a list of titles taken from books that were published in the second half of the 19 th century. Based on the book titles, write a paragraph that describes what you might have believed about technology being the driving force in history if you lived during this era and these were the only books on your shelf: Eighty Years of Progress Men of Progress Triumphs and Wonders of the 19 th Century The Progressive Ages or Triumphs of Science The Marvels of Modern Mechanism Our Wonderful Progress The Wonder Book of Knowledge Modern Wonder Workers

13. The 19 th century saw many technological advances With the rise of industrial capitalism, journalists, popular orators, and politicians hailed “the progress of the age,” reassuring their audiences that technological innovation not only exemplified but actually guaranteed progress. The tendency of 19 th -century writers was to view new technologies both as instruments of power and as triumphant symbols of human progress. The belief that in some fundamental sense technological developments determine the source of human events had become dogma by the end of the century. --But, keep in mind, there were many things going on in the 19 th century. Technological advances were just one element of the century. The new technology of the time certainly had an affect on society, but it was not the only force driving history.

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15. What message were people receiving about new technologies in the 19 th century? B.That is was dangerous C.That progress and technology were not related D.That technology could only guarantee progress if minority groups were recognized A.That technological innovation not only exemplified but actually guaranteed progressThat technological innovation not only exemplified but actually guaranteed progress

16. With the rise of industrial capitalism, journalists, popular orators, and politicians hailed “the progress of the age,” reassuring their audiences that technological innovation not only exemplified but actually guaranteed progress.

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18. How did 19 th century writers view new technologies? D.As instruments of power and as triumphant symbols of human progress C.As foreign ideas that would corrupt the youth. B.As a threat to the ideals of the American Revolution. A.As a means to purchase Alaska.As a means to purchase Alaska.

19. The tendency of 19 th -century writers was to view new technologies both as instruments of power and as triumphant symbols of human progress.

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