The American innovation that made millions of others possible

The United States patent process, established in 1790, stands as a cornerstone American innovation that has paved the way for millions of subsequent advancements. Historian Eric S. Hintz highlights the system's constitutional roots and its embodiment of democratic ideals, noting that it granted rights to "the first and true inventor" regardless of gender or race, long before broader societal equality was achieved.

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It creates a system that's good for the individual and good for the country.

This framework incentivized individual creativity while ensuring that inventions eventually entered the public domain, allowing for further development and innovation. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued over 12.65 million patents by 2026, demonstrating the system's enduring impact.

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One of the things that's really interesting about the first patent law is that it says the patent shall go to the first and true inventor.

Agriculture, one of the earliest sectors to benefit, saw transformative inventions like Eli Whitney's cotton gin, which dramatically increased cotton production. Francis Cabot Lowell adapted British technology for a practical power loom, establishing Massachusetts as a textile hub. Cyrus Hall McCormick's mechanical reaper revolutionized grain harvesting, fundamentally changing farming practices. Later, Frederick McKinley Jones' patented refrigeration system for trucks enabled the widespread transportation of perishable goods, further connecting markets and improving food accessibility.

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So long before women can vote, long before we've gotten rid of Jim Crow, women could get a patent, free Blacks could get a patent.