Communication Transportation Urbanization 9.1 Market Revolution Communication Transportation Urbanization

Whig Political Banner (1840s)

This large Whig campaign banner was probably carried in parades or at political gatherings during the 1840s. It carries a potent political message by juxtaposing a screaming eagle-symbol of an aggressive, vital America-and the tricolor shield of the Great Seal of the United States with images of commerce and industry. In this painting, the Erie Canal is of great importance: not only does it dominate the right side of the banner, but this picture was likely based on a scene painted to celebrate the opening of the Canal in 1825. The banner expresses the Whig belief that the development of coastal and internal transportation and the protection of home industries are vital interests to the growing Republic. Kennedy apprenticed as an ornamental coach painter and received training from a local artist in Troy, New York and was an active participant in the Civil War. http://collections.fenimoreartmuseum.org/items/show/256

Samuel Morse and the Telegraph

The Telegraph “WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT” Morse sends first telegraph on May 24, 1844 from Washington D.C. to Baltimore Morse's early system produced a paper copy with raised dots and dashes, which were translated later by an operator 23,000 miles of telegraph wire by 1854 (p: 277) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8f9A4xIlWk

Railroad Steam powered locomotives originated in England (1820s) Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (1828) Contribute to urbanization (can better supply a large population) American government contributes 45% of early railroad capital (subsidies) Poor safety records Four times faster than canal boats

Agricultural Revolution Midwest farming production growth Cyrus McCormick and the horse drawn grain reaper John Deere and the steel plow; farmers now had a surplus of goods to sell Connection to Eastern markets Canals, turnpikes, rail As agricultural output grows, manufacturing grows, infrastructure expands and the population increases

Cumberland Road Linked Cumberland, MD to Vandalia, Ill Under construction from 1811-1837

Canals

The Market Revolution: 1793 Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin 1797 Whitney invents interchangeable parts for firearms 1807 Robert Fulton invents the steamboat 1823 Lowell Mills opens in Massachusetts 1825 Erie Canal is completed 1828 First U.S. railroad appears 1834 Cyrus McCormick invents the mechanical mower-reaper 1835* Samuel F. B. Morse invents the telegraph 1837 Cumberland road (National Road) is completed 1838 John Deere invents the steel plow

Effect of the Market Revolution Political consequences: reinforced east-west ties at the expense of north-south relationships The canal systems (ex: Erie) and railroads encouraged Midwesterners to do business with the northeast as opposed to the south Exacerbates sectional tensions building to the Civil War; the sectional gap grows