Southwestern College - Moundbuilder Yearbook (Winfield, KS)

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Without realizing it, England instilled in the colonists the individual purpose and ingenuity that necessity breeds. With trade goods cut to a minimum, determined young leaders of the time set out to find ways of surviv- ing without support from the Mother Country. Agricultural methods and machines and labor saving devices were designed by our forefathers, As frontiers opened, Yankee genius had to conquer natural barriers in the wild new country, so suspension bridges were invented and methods of transportation were perfected for the pmgpose of opening the untamed areas. Later, they sought to section off the land with the revolution- ary and controversial invention - barbed wire. Cooper's 1-horsepower Tom Thumb train in 1830 and later, automobiles like the first Model T, and the 4-horsepower airplane, became American modes of travel from city to city and coast to coast, Americans knew that the fertile lands of this nation would produce unequalled harvests if machines were designed to take over for man. They knew also that trade routes were difficult to travel and manufacturing would have to be done close to home. The cotton gin, textile looms, drill presses and a reaper which could cut six times as much grain as a hand scythe were some of the tools invented. Protection for themselves and for their young country prodded inventors like Eli Whitney to perfect firearms and others to work on plans for the first submarine. Young inventors like Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison fcalled the nation's most valuable citi- zenj visualized machines that would light the country and open up communication with those in the far cor- ners of the nation. The telephone, telegraph, phono- graph and the first light bulb were discovered in the late 1800's and early twentieth century. This American way of doing for oneself inspired many to become inventors in their own right. Some sought to save labor and mass- produce for profit while others envisioned not only riches, but excitement and adventure as they discovered ways to defy nature. Throughout the past ZOO years the American mind has been unleashed to take whatever paths necessary to ful- fill the needs. In the last half-century, the pace of dis- covery has been overwhelming and inventions for the taming of the universe lie in the grasp of America while the habit of finding a way is ingrained in its people. The seeds of industrial America were sown by these inventors resulting in today's mechanized society.

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NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER Ol: -.

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THEY MADE THEIR M RK Men and women who helped shape America's history THOMAS PAINE. a bankrupt Quaker corsetmalier, some- time teacher, preacher and grocer wrote the most bril- liant pamphlet ol the American Revolution, His words in Common Sense reitlected longings and aspirations that have remained part ofltmerlcan culture lo this day. DANIEL WEBSTER chose law as a career and went on to become well-known in the courts and in politics. He was twice Secretary ol State with an eye always to the Presi- dency which eluded him. Chiel lustice IOHN MARSHALL established lundamental principles ol American constitutional law. He is noted for his precedental declaration ol a Congressional act as unconstitutional. He served through live administra- tions, lrom 1801-1835, l t t l ABRAHAM LtNCOLN epitomized the American dream ol a humble young man ascending to the highest oltice ol the land. He was superbly skilled at analyzing complex is- sues and translating them into meaningful words lor the public. He was devoted lo the preservation ol the Union. Born a slave in Maryland, FREDERICK DOUGLASS taught himself lo read and write secretly ann. at Zl. escaped to freedom. He was an ardent abolitionist campaigning successfully lor Negro suflrage and civil rights. HARRIET BEECHER STONE wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin in an eltort to make the whole nation realize the inhuman:- ty of slavery, Her book resulted in one ol the most popu' lar and controversial plays on the American stage. The Civil War was kindled by this work. 1 Wi Q l l l l DOROTHEA DIX worked her entire adult tile lor retorm ot the existing penal and mental institutions in the mid- l8lJ0's. The Inst state hospital in the nation at Trenton, New lersey was a direct result other elforts. The New Colossus. a sonnet composed by EMMA LAZ- ARUS in 1883 is inscribed on a bronze tablet at the base ol the Statue ot Liberty. She organized reliel lor lews and helped tugitives lrom the Czar's gbettos to establish homes in America. The creator of the Cherokee alphabet, SEQUOVAM, was an artist. writer and silversmilh. He used a simple t82l English primer to compose the characters. The lamous redwood trees ol the Pacilic coast bear his name. l l t l AMELIA IENKS BLOOMER, best known lor a mode ot dress she adopted during her campaign lor equal rights lor women. Though ridiculed until she gave up the cos- tume, the term bIoomer came to symbolize woman's bid lor individual treedom. l t HORACE GREEI.EV'S admonition to Co West youE man was a rallying cry ol the pioneers ol America. He was lounder and editor ol the New York Tribune. He was best known lor his philosophy ot social retorm and his unsuccessful bid lor the Presidency in 1872. IOSEPH PULITZER was the lirst iournalist to reach a tru- ly massive audience. His New York World newspaper was the symbol ol yellow iournaIism with its sensational- ism aimed at the common man.