US HISTORY Review of Political Change Economic and Social Change Mid-1800s

Political Changes— early to mid-1800s  Monroe Doctrine, 1823—exerting influence over Latin America  Beginning with Jackson (late 1820s/1830s): universal manhood suffrage  Almost every adult white male can vote  Changes in electioneering to appeal to common man

ECONOMIC CHANGE  In the West, there was more settlement and growth of farming, land exploitation  In the North, there was industrialization  In the South, there was greater reliance on farming and slavery because of industrialization

Westward Movement and Mechanization of Agriculture  Demographic center of America moving westward  In 1790, only NYC and Philadelphia had over 20,000 people  By 1860, there were 43 substantial cities

Life on the farming frontier  Loneliness, hardship, disease, death  Rugged individualism  Tobacco exhausts land; go WEST  John Deere—steel plow  Cyrus McCormick— mechanical reaper  Beaver, buffalo, sea otters depleted  Destruction vs. preservation

Industrialization of America Industrial Revolution started in England Industrial Revolution started in England At first, people in US moved west rather than industrialize At first, people in US moved west rather than industrialize War of 1812 and embargo against imports aided American industry War of 1812 and embargo against imports aided American industry

New inventions Samuel Slater’s textile mills (and spinning jenny) based on plans stolen from England Samuel Slater’s textile mills (and spinning jenny) based on plans stolen from England Howe/Singer: sewing machine Howe/Singer: sewing machine Eli Whitney: cotton gin (which makes slavery grow), interchangeable parts (which allows for assembly line in factories) Eli Whitney: cotton gin (which makes slavery grow), interchangeable parts (which allows for assembly line in factories)

Lives of workers --Child labor --Young women working at Lowell, MA, in mills (until marriage) --boring, repetitive work --craftsmanship is gone --workers are more easily replaced --dangerous working conditions around fast-moving machines --people divided into rich, middle class, poor --immigration supplements work force

Immigration and Nativism A major wave of immigration occurred in the mid-1800s, bringing millions of Irish and German people to America

Irish immigrants– 1 ½ million come because of potato famine Bring their Catholic religion and beer (for which they are often persecuted) Settle in cities, often in poverty Take lowest jobs (canal and RR building)

Eventually get politically connected Irish often participate in Democratic party Help build political machines Often have jobs in police force or in politics (even today, i.e. Mayor Daley)

German immigrants— almost as many Come for political reasons, often settle out west (farms, or in cities like Milwaukee) Also bring beer Introduce Conestoga wagon, Christmas tree, kindergarten

Nativism: hatred of immigrants

General conditions in large cities Slums Bad lighting Dirty water/disease Rats Garbage issues Large # of immigrants swell city sizes

Transportation and Communication Innovations Henry Clay’s American system: tariff, transportation, bank

Innovations in transportation Toll roads National Road: Cumberland Road Canals Railroads Pullman RR cars

Steamboat pioneered by Robert Fulton (first one called the Clermont) Telegraph invented by Samuel Morse

Market revolution leads to growth Parts of country are connected

…..and change