Sarah G. Bagley became the first female telegraph operator in 1846. A women’s rights advocate, she also worked to make millwork safer for women. Children could read an excellent biography of her at: Sarah G. Bagley.
Lucy B. Hobbs
Lucy B. Hobbs became the first woman dentist when she graduated from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1866. She practiced dentistry for over 20 years. She then turned her attention to politics and women’s rights.
Mexican American War
United States declared war on Mexico in 1846. However, General Zachary Taylor had crossed the border and established a fort several months before. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, ended the war. Lands gained by the United States included California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. The Gadsden Purchase, finalized on December 30, 1853, bought more land from Mexico that is today Arizona and New Mexico.
James Smithson
Smithsonian Institute was created by Congressional law in 1846. The money was given to the United States by James Smithson in 1836, but the government needed ten years to decide how best to use the donation. Today the Smithsonian has 19 museums and galleries, and 30 million people visit various parts of the Smithsonian yearly. Children could chart all the various parts of the Smithsonian. They could visit the AMAZING kid portion of the Smithsonian website at: http://www.si.edu/Kids.
Illustration of Sewing Machine from Patent
Sewing machine was patented by Elias Howe in 1846. He received patent number 4,750.
Neptune
Neptune was discovered in 1846. In 1841 John Couch Adams had begun work to find the planet. Urbain J. J. Leverrier, unknown to Adams, had also begun making calculations. Astronomer Johann G. Galle used their predictions and located the planet. Children could learn more at: Neptune.