Chapter 17 of 25
An Age of Invention and Immigration
Americans have long been known for invention. In 1879, Thomas Edison and his team in Menlo Park, New Jersey, produced a practical, long-lasting electric bulb. One example of an American innovationQ118 is the light bulb, which soon lit homes and cities around the world.
In 1886, the people of France gave America a gift to celebrate liberty and the friendship born in the Revolution. The Statue of LibertyQ120 stands in New York Harbor. For millions of immigrants arriving by ship, it was their first sight of America. Nearby Ellis Island, opened in 1892, processed about 12 million newcomers.
In 1892, Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance for schoolchildren marking 400 years since Columbus's voyage. When we say the Pledge of Allegiance, we show loyalty toQ66 the flag, and to the republic it stands for.