Data Literacy for Social Studies (based on Sokoloff, 1992), Annual Number of Patents Issued, 1790-1860

This graph is a recreation of one created by Kenneth L. Sokoloff in his 1992 book chapter, "Invention, Innovation, and Manufacturing Productivity Growth in the Antebellum Northeast." Sokoloff used U.S. Census Bureau data to visualize the exponential growth (note that this graph uses a logorithmic scale) in the number of patents issued during the U.S. antebellum period. Patents issued during this time period included, for example, Eli Whitney's cotton gin and Cyrus McCormick’s horse-drawn mechanical reaper.  Sokoloff argues that the expansion of markets following the War of 1812 and prior to the Civil War stimulated a commitment of resources to inventive activities in an effort to further increase productivity, thus prompting further acceleration of growth in productivity and living standards.