How does fulton’s vision of steam power relate to the nationalistic spirit that swept the country between 1815 and 1840?

Robert Fulton was an American engineer who built the steamboat in 1807. This invention is credited as one of the more representative ones in the Industrial Revolution, particularly in the American context.  

The Industrial Revolution brought enormous changes to developed societies, such as new political ideologies. One of those ideologies was nationalism. Nationalism is the doctrine of putting a particular country’s interests above all others, and it is commonly accompanied by a belief in the superiority of one’s own country.

Inventions such as Fulton’s steamboat were used to encourage nationalism. More efficient transportation and communications brought a sense of community to the US, as people got to know more about their own country. With this knowledge came a stronger sense of community and patriotism.

Additionally, with technological progress came stronger pride in one’s own country, and a sense of being more developed, more civilized and more modern than others. This was the attitude behind Europe’s colonialism, and it was present in America as well.

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