The invention of the reaper increased farm production of grain. As more grain was produced it increased the need to have improved farming tools to thresh it. This lead to factories in the North mass producing farm tools along with the reaper. The result of mass production and increase production led to an increase in city growth because people moved from farming areas to find work in factories where mass production was taking place. Also since production of crops increased better and faster transportation was needed to transport products throughout the country as it continued to grow. Thus canals like the Erie and railroads began to grow to facilitate the transportation of products and goods.

The advancement of technology especially in transportation helped to transform Americans lives during the late 19th century. People were no longer confined to a agrarian lifestyle. The industrialization of America change the dynamics of people lives drastically and eventually tore the nation apart because of the cultural differences between the North and the South. Both sides not realizing that their dependency upon each other is what made them thrive and become the America of that time period.

Definitely the mail played an important role during the 19th century. Using the postal service during the Civil War was a major form of communication; especially for soldiers to keep in touch with their families. Letters sent by soldiers during the war let their families know what the conditions were like on the battlefield. As discussed in this module many abolitionist use the postal service to inform Southerners about their anti-slavery beliefs. Which antagonized Southerners and led to the great dissension of the Civil War.

This module enlightened me about how trending beliefs surrounding slavery changed beginning with the Declaration of Independence to the beginning of the Civil War.(from a "lamentable evil"to "a positive good") I've always believed the idea of "states rights" centered around the fact that a state had the right to own another if they desired so. Most supporters of states rights argue the point that big government is not a good thing. But the push for "states rights" was largely based on that idea of having the right to own slaves. Many of the resources in this module built a case as to why slavery was needed but still emphasized the immorality of it. Most of that need centered around the economics of America. Money or greed dictated the role slavery played in the US. The fact that it was written in the Constitution that the Atlantic slave trade couldn't end for 20 years indicates that those who desired to own slaves would make new laws to keep the institution of slavery alive. Unfortunately those who wanted slavery and those who didn't couldn't compromise and the country headed toward a Civil War. Seems familiar to today's situations in so many ways.

The stereoscope broaden the way people looked at the world. People could see many different places and observe the lives of celebrities. The stereoscope also increase the usage of libraries for other than just getting books. Once libraries added the cards more people went to the library. The stereoscope also became a tool for teachers to show students people and places they were teaching about. Underwood and Underwood were able to shape society and the culture of adults and children through the cards and the images they presented. People who didn't have resources to travel were able to see the world through the stereoscope. In 1902 they were able to President Roosevelt and the way Underwood & Underwood highlighted him had great influence over the public's cultural values. The selling of the cards became a means of summer employment for college students and job opportunities for WW I veterans.

Students may research the development of television and movies. It is apparent that the technology of the stereoscope led to earlier development of radio, TV, and movies. It would be interesting for students to study the technology leading to the development of silent movies and radio.