The development of steam power marked the beginning of the tractor's lifetime. In 1849, A. M. Archambault & Company made the first farm steam engine. It wasn't too effective though since it was only stationary or portable. When the traction engine was developed, with its powered wheels, the farmers could steer the machine from a platform. This was a big change in the agricultural world, but since the traction engine was unwieldy and expensive it still wasn't good. In 1876, a more practical engine for farm tractors was created by German inventor Nicholas Otto: the internal combustion engine. This engine is still in use today.
In the 1890s, the gasoline tractor made its debut. John Froelich's hybrid was especially notable since it could propel itself both forwards and backwards. The hybrid would be the forerunner of John Deere's Waterloo Bay line.
The tractor kept evolving for many years and the demand for it escalated when the United States entered World War 1 in 1917. Farmers would lose a lot of labor when young men went out to war, and the tractor would make up for that.
So, what is the significance of the farm tractor? Like I wrote earlier, it mechanized agricultural tasks. Just a basic tractor is in charge of plowing, pulverizing and treating the farm field. Then there are also tractors that maintains the growth of newly planted seeds, and tractors that both harvests and transports the harvest from farm to market. With just three tractors you can do all of that. Without tractors it would take a much longer time, and lots of labor would be needed. When the tractor came, farm workers would lose their jobs but because of that they looked for jobs in new factories in the cities. This sped up industrialization.
Sources:
http://www.farmcollector.com/company-history/tractor-history-ze0z1205zsie.aspx#axzz2jLLmDBgi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractor
http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Are-Farm-Tractors-Important?&id=4514832
In the 1890s, the gasoline tractor made its debut. John Froelich's hybrid was especially notable since it could propel itself both forwards and backwards. The hybrid would be the forerunner of John Deere's Waterloo Bay line.
The tractor kept evolving for many years and the demand for it escalated when the United States entered World War 1 in 1917. Farmers would lose a lot of labor when young men went out to war, and the tractor would make up for that.
So, what is the significance of the farm tractor? Like I wrote earlier, it mechanized agricultural tasks. Just a basic tractor is in charge of plowing, pulverizing and treating the farm field. Then there are also tractors that maintains the growth of newly planted seeds, and tractors that both harvests and transports the harvest from farm to market. With just three tractors you can do all of that. Without tractors it would take a much longer time, and lots of labor would be needed. When the tractor came, farm workers would lose their jobs but because of that they looked for jobs in new factories in the cities. This sped up industrialization.
Sources:
http://www.farmcollector.com/company-history/tractor-history-ze0z1205zsie.aspx#axzz2jLLmDBgi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractor
http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Are-Farm-Tractors-Important?&id=4514832
