America, Chapter 12 The Dynamics of Growth
1. How is the country developing economically on both regional and national levels? Industrial revolution in NE urbanization Commercial agriculture (corn, wheat, cattle) emerging in West King Cotton expansion of slavery in South Transportation innovations national market expanding
2. Identify the factors allowing agriculture to thrive in... The South Cotton moves through South as profitable crop IR spread of textile mills increased demand Cotton gin (Whitney 1793) allows for easier production Becomes major export commodity, raises capital in both North and South
2. Identify the factors allowing agriculture to thrive in... The West Migration through OH River Valley and Great Lakes region 1860: more than ½ of country lives across Appalachia Prairies’ fertile lands draw farmers from rocky NE and exhausted SE Lower land prices in West + state banks = easier to buy land on credit Leniency of federal land laws favoring pre-emption and graduation Development of effective cotton plows, mechanical seeders/reaper, threshers
3. What is the purpose of the Erie Canal? What effects does it have? 1827: NY legislature authorizes governor’s idea to connect Hudson River to Lake Erie Draws eastward the Midwest trade that previously went down through the OH and MS Rivers ties together the West and East while further isolating the Deep South Reduces travel time and cost of moving freight Causes previously small towns to become major commercial cities Renders the Great Lakes an “economic tributary” of New York City Other developments in water transportation: river steamboats (bring two-way traffic to MS River Valley), flatboats, canal barges
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages to the development of railroads? Canal development slows down after financial panic of 1837 shortly replaced by railroad development (1820s – 1850s) Advantages: Superior speed, carrying capacity, reliability (able to operate year-round) Reduces cost of freight/passenger transportation Encourages new settlement and expansion of farming Creates market for iron and equipment Disadvantages: Corrupts political life (opportunity for fast profits) Accelerates the decline of Native American culture Speeds up “tempo and mobility of life”
5. What is the role of the state and federal governments in the transportation revolution? Transportation improvements during antebellum era (before 1860) are financed by state governments and private investors After 1837 panic, state governments mostly leave finance to private investors (but help with tax concessions) Federal government does contribute Buys stock in turnpike/canal companies Extends land grants to western states to support canal and railroad projects Reduces tariff on iron for railroad construction
6. What factors allow for a “communications revolution” in the nineteenth century? How much faster can information travel in the U.S.? Communications revolution factors Construction of turnpikes, railroads, canals Establishment of post offices Mail delivered by “express” (through horses between stations) Still difficult to send news across the Appalachian Mtns. Development of steamships and the telegraph Increased rate of information transfer 1799: Takes one week for news of Washington’s death to transfer from DC to NYC 1815: Takes nearly fifty days for news to reach NY from Europe 1830: Jackson’s inaugural address transfers from DC to NYC in 16 hours
7. What technological developments improve Americans’ quality of life? Nineteenth century an age of American “practical inventiveness” Research and innovation Work on electromagnetism telegraph system Smithsonian established for “increase and diffusion of knowledge” Quality of life differs along socioeconomic lines Affluent have indoor plumbing, central heating, gas lighting, bathtubs, iceboxes Lower-class have cast-iron stoves Further developments First sewer system, underground water lines Machine-made clothing Vulcanized rubber (stronger, more elastic) Sewing machine (slows progress of factory system) Telegraph