Isaac Newton was born January 4, 1643 (new calendar) in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England to Isaac Newton and Hannah Ayscough. Sadly, Newton’s father passed away three months prior to his birth , leaving him to be born to a widow. Newton was not expected to make it through the first day of his life. However not only did he survive the first day of his life, he lived to make it to see his eighty-fourth birthday. Although Newton lived to see the day after he was born his life was all but easy, but no matter what was thrown his way he overcame it. Isaac Newton influenced American Society in various ways . Newton’s most influential contributions to American Society are forming what we now know as modern day calculus,the three laws of motion, and inventing a telescope which inspired the Hubble space telescope.
Newton’s three laws of motion influenced American Society by inspiring the American Revolution, although many years after Newton had passed his work still had a lasting effect on many people. The three laws of motion helped inspire American Society by changing how people viewed the universe and everything around them. American Society in that time, based on Newton’s three laws of motion caused people to question their relationships with those around them as well as those who rule over them. With the questioning of relationships also came the spark that lead to the fighting of the American Revolution. Newton's laws stated that there are natural laws that act on everything in the universe no matter what, which led many people to believe there were natural laws for how people should act. With this thought floating around many started to pick up on it, the most notable person would be John Locke. John Locke had been influenced by this school of thought, which in turn he came up with what he felt like should be the rights that everyone has, “the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” With these rights in mind America was going to fight and gain their own rights so they could live their life as they wanted. However none of those thoughts would have sparked up if Isaac Newton would have not discovered the three laws of motion.(Cline)
Another way Newton influenced American Society is calculus. Many students now have to take a class called calculus, which is the mathematical study of change, and they can thank Isaac Newton because without him there would be no such thing. The reason Newton had invented calculus was so he could express planetary motion and calculate velocity of an object at any point in time.(Reference.com) Calculus is used in many different fields of study and work such as math, science, engineering, and many more, the main one it is used in is engineering. Without engineering there would not be cell phones, bridges, or even power; there are many different types of engineering and every one of them are important to society. Although most people do not realize it, engineering of all kinds requires a calculus foundation. Some of the most important structures in America were built using engineering, which would also require the use of calculus. One notable structure would be the Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam was built using civil engineering. The Hoover Dam was built to utilize hydraulic power to provide power to California and Arizona, as well as to help control seasonal flooding.(Reference.com) Another important landmark in America that used engineering is The Golden Gate Bridge, this was also built using civil engineering. The Golden Gate Bridge was built for the use of moving products and people to and from San Francisco to the south side of Marin County.(Reference.com)
Newton’s work also inspired the Hubble Space Telescope which is a reflecting telescope, just like the one Newton had built. The Hubble Space Telescope has been providing NASA with information for about 15 years on many things ranging from new planets to stars. Hubble has changed how astronomers now view the universe. The necesity for Hubble to be created was so astronomers could see outside of our atmosphere, because the atmosphere distorts the images of a normal telescope on the ground.(HubbleSite.com) The telescope is not just for big corporates, any astronomer has access to the Hubble Space Telescope images.
Isaac Newton is not only a great physicists, but he also is a man who has influenced American Society in more ways than one. The most notable ways that he has helped change society is by creating modern day calculus, what we know as the three laws of motion, and inspiring one of the most well known telescopes in American history, the Hubble Space Telescope. Newton rose above all challenges in his life from the first day he was born, and made a significant impact on American Society as we know it today.