SAMUEL COLT

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Samuel Colt

Samuel Colt was an inventor who came up with many different types of inventions, all on the side of arms. Apart from being an inventor, he was also an industrialist and an entrepreneur. His inventions have been of great importance within the American society since he invented the revolver since it has been used so often and in different dire circumstances by the American security forces. Therefore his contribution, as discussed below, to the civil war, American democracy, and American history is of great significance and cannot be left out (Blattman, & Miguel, 2010). Therefore this paper discusses the inventions of Samuel colt and how these inventions changed Americans’ lives as well as significant events and times of America like the civil war along with concepts like capitalism, democracy, American exceptionalism, and political revolution (Almond, 1991).

Samuel colt was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1814 to Christopher and Sarah. At his early age, he owned a pistol that had belonged to his grandfather, and this was an early sign of what his interest would be later in life. He became fascinated by the compendium of knowledge at the age of 11 and looking at Robert Fulton’s invention of gunpowder. He got more interested in guns and the process of making them (Houze et al., 2006). When he was 15 years old, he worked at his father’s farm, and here he worked using machine tools and manufacturing processes. He could practice with gun powder during his free time, and severally he caused fires, especially along with lake ware. When he was 16 years old, he worked for brig Corvo, and from working with ships, he came to understand how a gun was made in such a way to revolve from observing ships wheel and capstan.

From this idea, he carved model guns. Upon returning to Massachusetts, he showed his father, who agreed to fund him for their production. His father withdrew his financial support after the firearms did not perform appropriately as expected, and therefore colt opted for other ways (Houze et al., 2006). He went on for a tour about the laughing gas in most places of the country, and therefore this tour brought him enough money to have his guns build by professional gun makers. After this, it was successful, and thus his guns began being used. In 1936 he received a patent for his weapons, and he began producing many firearms. By 1837 he had made more than 1000 guns.

The Mexican-American war brought him a great fortune as he supplied approximately one thousand revolver guns to the union during this period, which made him get back to the business that seemed to have been dying. Apart from his, the civil war, which was a significant time of American history, made him get into business as he supplied arms to the union only(Blattman, & Miguel, 2010). His contribution, therefore, towards the civil war and his provision of arms to the union only can be seen as a way of being patriotic and at the same time protecting the people of the nation. This is because he knew very well that the guns were to be appropriately used by the union, unlike selling them to ordinary people who were likely to use them against anyone they thought to be against them and cause unnecessary bloodshed at a time when gun ownership was not yet well-grounded within America.

Therefore his contribution towards the civil war is seen as positive and not harmful as his guns helped lessen the civil war and the southern side to come to be at peace with the northern side (Blattman, & Miguel, 2010). His industry also contributed towards American exceptionalism to a great extent, as this is the industry that made and led many people to own guns. Therefore through gun ownership, people have been able to protect themselves (Madsen, 1998). However, the concept of American exceptionalism is a complicated one since America, as seen as unique from other countries, is sometimes seen in that manner in all evil ways that democracy is believed to have brought into place (Almond, 1991). It even comes to gun ownership, whereby the freedom of owning guns is at times seen as not a kind of freedom but as a kind of societal destruction, especially with the mass shootings and the racial discrimination that have been happening of late in most places within America.

Even though his legacy and invention have had a very positive impact on the way officers fight enemies and keep the peace today, it is also seen as a destructive force that encourages war and lack of consensus within America and the whole world.

American democracy, as drawn from the civil war intertwined with colt’s invention, informs us that democracy for everyone is essential. With the slavery which was taking place and which was the leading cause of the civil war, it is crucial to realize that his invention helped attain rights and freedom for the slaves since if it were not for the use of his revolver guns, then slavery would have continued since the then-president had succeeded into power on terms that slavery was to stop (Almond, 1991). However, the southern side wanted to continue with slavery, and therefore the war broke out. The northern side, which also supported the union, fought and made sure that the north side and the union won such that slavery was abolished. Therefore his invention led to the upholding of human rights.

In conclusion, his invention also influenced social life in America in that black people were treated with more dignity, and slavery stopped. Apart from this, due to gun ownership, no one is allowed to oppress any other since they can protect themselves using guns.

References

Almond, G. A. (1991). Capitalism and democracy. PS: Political Science and Politics, 24(3), 467-474.

Blattman, C., & Miguel, E. (2010). Civil war. Journal of Economic Literature, 48(1), 3-57.

Houze, H. G., Cooper, C. C., & Kornhauser, E. M. (2006). Samuel Colt: arms, art, and invention. Yale University Press.

Madsen, D. L. (1998). American exceptionalism. Univ. Press of Mississippi.