Whether its inventing, discovering, or improving, Americans and Englishmen have made significant contributions to the worlds many modern advances. Mark Twain once said, An Englishman is a person who does things because they have been done before. An American is a person who does things because they havent been done before(Michael, par 1).
Twains words turned out to be extremely accurate. Throughout history, Americans have been the source of a multitude of innovative discoveries and inventions, while Englishmen have primarily put their energy into improving and embellishing things that have already been developed.
One way that Americans have significantly influenced the world is by successfully advancing the field of space exploration. The Apollo Eleven space flight to the moon connected all of humanity to the mysteries of outer space. The American lunar expedition was viewed by the worlds largest television audience of its time (Neil, par 10).
When Neil Armstrong placed his foot on the surface of the moon, it was obvious that Americans had just taken One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind (Neil, par 1).
Industrial exploration is another area in which Americans have pioneered new inventions. One of the greatest American inventors of all time was Thomas Alva Edison. Thomas Edison invented such useful items as the phonograph and the electric light bulb, which revolutionized the lifestyles of countries all over the world. Creating over 1000 inventions, Edison changed the way people lived forever and earned his place in American history (Thomas, par 1).
The Essay on Enlightenment Of The First World War
Enlightenment of the First World War "Lead this people into war, and they'll forget there was ever such a thing as tolerance. To fight, you must be brutal and ruthless, and the spirit of ruthless brutality will enter into the very fibre of national life, infecting the Congress, the courts, the policeman on the beat, the man in the street." Nowadays more and more scientists devote much of their ...
He is an excellent example of an American that aspired to do things that no man had ever done before.
It is impossible for a person to talk about American innovations without including Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright Brothers conducted numerous experiments and tests with gliders to gain knowledge about flight (Wright, par 3).
They had the insight and determination to turn their fantasy into reality one December day in 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright Brothers became the first people in the world to perform a controlled flight with an airplane, although they didnt receive full credit until 1908 (Wright, par 4).
Shortly after American, Henry Ford, introduced his Model A automobile to the world, in 1903, an Englishman named Sir Fredrick Henry Royce purchased one for himself. He was not satisfied with its performance, however, and was determined to make a better, more efficient automobile (Rolls, par 3).
While attempting to develop a more progressive British car, he crossed paths with a fellow Englishman named Charles Stewart Rolls. The two men, both automotive business owners, united their efforts and created their own line of automobiles called Rolls-Royce Limited. They were successful in constructing a two-cylinder, ten horsepower car, which was more efficient and luxurious than the original Model A automobile created by Henry Ford (Rolls, par 3).
Steamboat technology is another area of American exploration that revolutionized the world of travel. In August, 1807, a steamboat designed by Robert Fulton successfully completed the first round trip voyage from New York to Albany and back (Steamboats, par 1).
This voyage started an obsession for advancement in steam travel that reached across the Atlantic and into the minds of the British people. Their quest to always out-do their competitors eventually led to the creation of one of the most famous steamboats of all time. The Titanic was the most luxurious ship that had ever been built. It could not compete with the speed of other steamships, however, so the English decided to compensate by creating the largest and most elaborate ship the world had ever seen (Sinking, par 3).
The Titanic was financed by an American company, International Mercantile Marine, which purchased White Star Lines, the British marine company responsible for building the Titanic. The ship, however, was built totally with British technology, registered as a British ship, and manned by British officers (Sinking, par 2).
The Essay on American And British Hous
Modern American and British houses may appear similar from the outside, just as an American may appear similar to an Englishman. One cannot judge a house by its faade, however, and beneath the surface, two altogether different design paradigms exist. The American house is a sprawling retreat that is designed for comfortable living. Compact and efficient, the British house embodies a conservative ...
The Titanic launched its first voyage from Southampton, England on the evening of April 14, 1912 (Sinking, par 1).
It was traveling to New York when it struck an iceberg and sank, killing fifteen hundred people. The superiority of the Titanic will always be overshadowed, however, by the memory of one of the greatest disasters of all times.
It is clear to see that the dreams and accomplishments of Americans have had a tremendous global influence throughout history. Individuals such as Neil Armstrong, Thomas Alva Edison, Robert Fulton, and Orville and Wilbur Wright are prime examples of American people with the courage to dream, and the perseverance to turn their dreams into reality. Englishmen such as Sir Fredrick Henry Royce, Charles Stewart Rolls, and the architects of the Titanic, have also contributed greatly to the advancement of world technology. The difference is, however, that Americans have the courage to be the first to try, while Englishmen are more interested in proving they can do it better.
Works Cited
Michael Moncur. Classic Quotes. 15 February 2007 .
Neil Armstrong. Astronomy and Space: From the Big Bang to the Big Crunch. 3 vol. U*X*L*, 1997. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2007. Edmond Memorial H.S., Edmond. 18 January 2007. .
Rolls and Royce. DISCovering World History. Online Edition. Gale, 2003. From Thomas John Thomson. Charles Stewart Rolls and Sir Fredrick Henry Royce. Great Lives From History. Frank N. Magill, ed. British and Commonwealth Series. Vol. 1. Salem Press, 1987. Discovering Collection. Thomson Gale. 21 January 2007. Edmond Memorial H.S., Edmond. 21 January 2007 .
Sinking of the Titanic. DISCovering Science. Online Edition. Gale, 2003. Discovering Collection. Thomson Gale. 15 February 2007. Edmond Memorial H.S., Edmond. 15 February 2007 .
Steamboats (1815-1850).
American Eras. 8 Vols. Gale Research, 1997-1998. Discovering Collection. Thomson Gale. 15 February 2007. Edmond Memorial H.S., Edmond. 15 February 2007 .
The Review on Wally Lamb Undone 2003 Gale
Wally Lamb Accomplished writer, teacher, father, husband and volunteer, Wally Lamb strives to keep occupied. With two hit books out and a few short stories along with a full time teaching position, successful hardly describes Lamb. What started out as something fun on the side turned into a career breaking achievement. As a youth Lamb was a "fat, unathletic, inactive kid, but eventually slimmed ...
Thomas Alva Edison. DISCovering Biography. Online Edition. Gale, 2003. Discovering Collection. Thomson Gale. 21 January 2007. Edmond Memorial H.S., Edmond. 21 January 2007 .
Wright Brothers. Science and Its Times, Vol. 6: 1900-1949. Gale Group, 2000. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2007. Edmond Memorial H.S., Edmond. 18 January 2007 .
