The eighteenth century was filled with countless new inventions, techonological breakthroughs, and new outlooks on the world. For example, the thermometer and the bifocals were two major inventions that occured during the eighteenth century. The French Revolution drastically changed the scene in France. The impact of the Scientific Revolution and Englightenment were now evident in society. The United States of America was on the verge of becoming an independent nation. And to cap this all off, James Watt invented the steam engine which catalyzed the development of the steam locomotive, whose effect on society is profound; the steam locomotive boosted production of businesses, transformed tight-knit villages into huge cities, and ushered in an era of big business and production which is still present today.