To determine the ranking, we took the number of patents filed by city residents in the last forty years and divided that number by the year’s available population data in the Census. The result is a map displaying the average number of patents filed per 10,000 people in each city. The figures for 2016 are not included because they do not yet exist. However, we did find a map for 1976 and 2017.
\nA number of black inventors were born into slavery in the southern United States, including Henry Boyd, born in Kentucky in 1802. In 1802, he created a corded bed with wooden rails and employed 23 black laborers. The invention was later patented by a white craftsman. Another notable black inventor was Thomas Jennings, who in 1821 invented dry cleaning.
\nDuring the antebellum era, slavery was a deeply rooted institution in North America. It continued to be legal in the United States until 1865, when the 13th amendment abolished it. But even today, descendants of slaves struggle to achieve equal rights and opportunities. The following resources can be used to educate students about the history of slavery, including the abolition movement, the American Civil War, and the economic impact of slavery.
\nThere are a few enslaved African American inventors whose works have changed the world. These include John Parker, who owned three patents by the end of 1886, and Norbert Rillieux, a Creole inventor from New Orleans. Inventors like these were instrumental in shaping society and bringing change to our everyday lives.
\nIn the 18th century, African Americans were able to establish a strong history of invention. This continued into the 19th century, with many Black inventors having a huge impact on the American economy. For example, Andrew Jackson Beard, a black inventor from Alabama who gained his freedom at age fifteen, invented the flour mill and the rotary steam engine. He later worked for the railroad and invented two types of plows.
\nJefferson Davis, soon to become president of the Confederacy, had a slave named Benjamin Davis who invented a steamboat propeller. This propeller was designed to work in shallower waters, making more efficient use of power. Jefferson Davis’ sons, Joseph, and Jefferson, tried to patent the propeller. Unfortunately, their efforts were rejected by the attorney general. But, the Davis brothers pushed for legislation that would allow them to patent slave machinery.
\nIf you’re teaching about the history of enslaved people in Oceanport, New Jersey, you might start by examining the lives of slave inventors in the region. The abolitionist movement, the Civil War, and the 13th amendment were all catalysts in ending slavery. However, descendants of slaves continue to face racism and discrimination today. Use the resources below to teach about the abolitionist movement and the Civil War, and how the abolitionist movement changed the face of America. Also, read up on African American inventors who have impacted the world’s economy and society.
\nRick Geffken is a historian who has published numerous articles on New Jersey history. He has given talks at many historical societies and libraries in the region. He is a past president of the Jersey Coast Heritage Museum at Sandlass House, and a board member of Truehart Productions. He has also appeared on the New Jersey Cable television show “Family Historian.” You can find more information about Rick Geffken’s research at his website.
\nIn 1675, Lewis Morris brought dozens of slaves to work in the ironworks of East Jersey. This colony had experienced Dutch traders forcing Africans to labor in Bergen plantations fifty years earlier, but Lewis Morris’s use of chattel slavery was a radical new innovation. He brought dozens of enslaved workers from Barbados. His company christened the area Monmouth County, New Jersey, after his family seat in Tintern, Monmouthshire, Wales.
\nDespite the lack of patents, African-American inventors contributed to the rapid economic growth of the 17th and 18th centuries in the United States. Despite the lack of patents, their inventions were not given the protection they deserved. However, today, many countries foster innovation through the patent system, which grants inventors the right to use their inventions and receive financial rewards through licensing and selling them.
\nIn the early 19th century, African American inventors continued to exert tremendous influence on the nation’s economy. For example, Andrew Jackson Beard, an Alabama native who achieved freedom at fifteen, invented the flour mill, the rotary steam engine, and two types of plows, among other innovations. These innovations are still impacting our lives today.
\nIn the early 1850s, Benjamin Montgomery, born into slavery, invented a steamboat propeller that could work in shallow waters. Steamboats were often stuck in shallow water, delaying the delivery of life-sustaining supplies. After developing the propeller, Montgomery tried to obtain a patent. However, the patent office denied his request due to his status as a slave. His owners then tried to take credit for the propeller, but the patent office rejected their application.
\nLewis Morris, who founded the town, had a massive number of slaves. His descendants inherited more slaves from his father than any other individual, and he would have qualified as a large slave owner in Virginia. In 1691, the town had sixty-six inventoried enslaved people, about 60 percent of the total number of slaves in East Jersey.
\nThe lack of patent protection hindered black inventors from achieving widespread recognition for their ideas and inventions. African-Americans did not have the same privileges as other citizens of the United States, but they were still major contributors to the country’s rapid economic development. The lack of patent protection, however, prevented black inventors from receiving the financial benefits of their inventions.
\nThe museum displays ledger books and ads for runaway slaves, and exhibits include household objects and implements created by enslaved workers. The enslaved produced almost everything – from cheese to rum to sugar. Their labor allowed slave traders to keep their stores stocked and their prices low.
\n\n https://www.ycombinator.com/documents/
\n https://techcrunch.com/
\n https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/startup-resources
\n https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/fund-your-business
\n https://hbr.org/1998/11/how-venture-capital-works
\n http://patentpc.com/
\n http://uspto.gov/
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