CHAPTER 11: Technology, Culture, & Everyday Life, 1840-1860 CHAPTER LEAD-IN, pg 313 Isaac M singer, struggled occupationally, abandoned wife and children, lured Mary Ann Sponslor to living with him in caring for him but he cheated on her and beat her. 1850 ?Singer made significant improvements on a sewing machine and was wealthy within 10 years. Sewing machines were in high demand to cut time manufacturing ready-made clothing, which made clothing cheaper and boosted the ready ? made clothing industry Technology ?term coal and in 1829 to indicate the application of science to improving life?s conveniences Telegraph, cotton gin, steam engine, mechanical reaper, locomotive ? all technological advances