The Wright Brothers second flight lasted 59 seconds.

Eli Whitney cotton gin cleaned more cotton in a day than a man could clean in one whole year.

By Nicholas

1901 glider being flown as a kite, Wilbur at left side, Orville at right;
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Library of Congress

    The Wright brothers were named Wilber and Orville. They were inspired to make and fly gliders from the work of a German man named Otto Lilienthal. They tested their flights near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In the beginning, their flights were not that long, in fact, they only lasted five to ten seconds! As a result, the brother worked hard on improving their ideas. Soon after, they came up with a great idea; to put a motor in it! Finally on December 17, 1903 this amazing flight took place. It was fifty-nine seconds of pride and joy! 

Eli Whitney
Library of Congress

      Unlike the Wright Brothers, Eli Whitney did not work with a partner. He was born in West Burrow, Massachusetts in 1765. He attended Yale College and spent some of his time thinking of what to do for a living. While visiting Georgia plantations he was inspired to invent a sample cotton gin. The cotton gin cleaned the cotton and took all of the seeds out of it. His cotton gin cleaned more cotton in a day than a man could clean in one whole year.

     Eli Whitney also made cotton fabric clothes. Everyone in town liked and wore his new style of clothes. Whitney made very little money from his amazing invention because many people copied his invention and sold it without his permission. Whitney argued and went to courts to try to make a law about copyrights. Copyrights did not become a law until 1807. Later in his life he made 10,000 muskets for the military and was the first to manufacture them.

     The Wright Brothers and Eli Whitney have changed our world. The Wright Brothers invented gliders which leaded to us having airplanes today. Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin.  Without the cotton gin, we would not have the ability to produce cotton as quickly which would effect Americas economy. This is why I think both of these inventions are great!

For more information:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/wrightbrothers/
http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/152.html

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