The Steamboat
By: Hope McCullah and Mindy Nguyen
Driving Question
Definiton
Backround
Robert Fulton, is known as the inventor of the first successful steamboat, which was called the Clermont in the early 1800s. However, decades earlier, another inventor named John Fitch worked on his own steamboat designs. The first voyage was on the Hudson river traveling 40 miles from NY to Albany. The trip took eight hours.
Pros
-allowed settlers to go up and downstream
-traveled faster (5-10 mph)
-Carried a lot of cargo, much more than other types of transportation
Cons
-steam engine would take in to much pressure and would explode
-it was likely to sink
-effected the environment badly from the burning of coal and wood to deforestation
Commentary
Facts
The first steamboat voyage was in 1807
The Clermont, built by Robert, was not the first steamboat made but it became the first commercially successful one
Robert did not make his own engine. Instead he ordered one from Watt and applied it to his boat
It’s average speed was 4.7 mph. It was 149 ft in length and was 18 ft wide
- Although some may believe, Robert did not invent the steamboat, he was able to make the thought a reality and made a successful steamboat