American History 1 Unit 4 The Age of Jackson 1824 - 1845
(Growing Differences between the North and the South) Part One Sectionalism (Growing Differences between the North and the South)
The North
The North’s economy was based on commerce, shipping, and manufacturing.
Industrial Revolution Creating things with machines, not by hand Focusing on iron production Started in England Started in Textiles
Northern Cities were becoming crowded and filthy Garbage collection was “letting the pigs into the alley.”
Cottage Industry An industry whose labor force consists of family units or individuals working at home with their own equipment
Rhode Island System Samuel Slater introduced in the 1790s Created towns for entire families to live and work in. Company Housing Company Store
Factory System Use machines (too large for the home) powered by steam, water, or electricity. Used Division of Labor which allowed employees to be unskilled.
Francis Cabot Lowell visits England and memorizes factory layout & machine designs.
Lowell System Used in New England All stages of production done under one roof.
Lowell Mill Girls – came from the country to live and work in cities. Strict boarding houses with strong moral codes
Eventually cheaper immigrants were used to maximize profits.
Organizing (Unions) The Workingman’s Party Sought to reduce the work day from 12 hours to 10 hours. 1836 saw the Lowell girls go on strike when wages were cut and boarding fees were raised.
Migration Industrialization led to increased opportunities for immigrant employment. Irish and German Immigrants were the most numerous. (Irish potato famine) Industrialization also created hardships 48ers German political refugees that fled to America after the Revolutions of 1848
New Innovations Sewing Machines Typewriter Airbrakes Vulcanized rubber Improvements for the Wealthy Central heating Sewer Systems
The North sought tariffs to “protect their industry.” A major tariff was passed in 1816 and 1828
Market Revolution New mindset of producers How to produce goods How to sell goods People stopped making just from themselves and tried to sell excess products Expansion of the market through transportation improvements America adopts capitalism, Adam Smith’s ideas.
Transportation Technologies Coal powered steam engines Railroad Steam Ship – Robert Fulton’s Clermont Steam turbines
Early Steamships were extremely dangerous 42 ship explosions killed nearly 300 people early on.
Erie Canal Connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Made Chicago an important trading hub. Tolls paid for the canal.
Made NY city # 1 and relegated Boston to #2
Originally horses towed the boats
The canal Lowered costs of shipping Kept food from rotting while headed to market Encouraged Migration to the Midwest & Upstate NY The canal soon carried twice the goods of the Mississippi River The 363 mile canal was huge compared to the previous longest canal which was only 26 miles.
One downside to all these transportation movements was the spread of disease.