steam and coal

Steam and coal were resources used for many reasons. With coal, many newly invented machines were powered mostly by coal. These machines could accomplish the same amount of work that previously required many people and animals work at a more efficient speed. With steam, inventors found ways to capture and utilize natural characteristics of water and become steam. Machines driven by steam were able to spin thread and weave cloth. Steam also enabled development of reliable, high speed transportation such as trains and steam ships.