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A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History
Reshaping the Nation and the Emergence of Modern America: 1877 to 1930s Back to History Unit

(b) describing the transformation of the American economy from a primarily agrarian to a modern industrial economy and identifying major inventions that improved life in the United States;


Edison's Light Bulb Patent
National Archives and Records Administration: Our Documents

Description: From "Our Documents," images of Thomas Edison's patent application for the light bulb exhibit the new growth in electricity in the late 19th century.



Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestions
  • Have students read by candlelight for homework then write down their reactions. In class, discuss what the experience was like and what it would be like to live all the time just by candlelight.
  • Show the drawing of the electric light bulb without the title. Ask students to write down their answers to the following questions: What is it? What does it do? How difficult to you think it was to invent?
  • Define what a patent is as a class. Ask students what current inventions can you think of has a patent?
Suggestions for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson
  • Have students each pick another invention or innovation made by Edison. Have them put together presentations with visuals of the invention and its impact on American society.
  • Give a lecture on the process to obtain a patent through the U.S. government, and what a patent dictates for an inventor. Also detail what happens when a patent runs out.

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