Era of Good Feeling and Ante-Bellum Economic Growth Market and Industrial Revolution

Era of Good Feeling Growth of both nationalism and sectionalism

Growth of Republican Culture Republican Motherhood Women responsible for the morality of future citizens Primary responsibility—caring for children and the home Full manhood suffrage Changed the tone of politics Eliminated property qualifications for voting

Background to Economic Nationalism Colonial manufacturing system Centered on the household Farmers sought self-sufficiency England Pioneered textile technology Large machines in factories Attempt to ban exports of machines or knowledgeable people

American Textile Industry Samuel Slater was brought to the US Opening of his factory marked the start of the industrial period Capital was available from merchants Post-war tariffs Rivers provided cheap power Cotton textiles Cotton is king in the South Samuel Slater

Textile Mills Located in New England Lowell system developed Devised by the Merrimack Co. in 1822 Employers exercised paternalistic control Young women recruited to work Housed in dorms Drive for profits created poor conditions

Economic Nationalism: Government Support of Economic Growth Henry Clay’s American System Re-charter of the BUS Federally funded “internal improvements” Higher “protective” tariff Development of the corporation– “Common Wealth” laws Limited liability Eminent domain New technology helped fuel this market revolution

New Technology Cotton Gin Interchangeable parts Sewing machines Mechanical reaper Steel plow Steamboat

Labor and the National Economy “Laissez Faire” regulation of labor Plenty of cheap labor Specialization and division of labor Factory conditions worsened Craft unions became more political Concept of equality and liberty apply Factory system leads some craft workers to become wage earners Wage slaves

Labor in the Market Revolution Workers divided into two groups Self-employed and wage-earning Unions had been deemed illegal (1806) charged with criminal conspiracy Still some skilled laborers formed unions and bargained with employers National Trades Union—1834 Better pay and hours Black lists Commonwealth vs. Hunt (1842)

Expansion of Markets Abundant natural resources and labor contributed to the Market Revolution Westward expansion leads to greater regional specialization and comparative advantage By 1860 the population center had shifted west Improved transportation supports the market revolution Opens new markets

Transportation Developments Improved transportation systems became important—get goods to market States chartered corporations to develop infrastructure System of roads develops—improve inland trade 1790s—Lancaster turnpike 1818—National road State vs. Federal funding National road (1818) and government funded highways were slow and expensive

Transportation Developments Water travel is more efficient Land along rivers is more valuable Farmers built barges for transportation Steamboats replace barges more cost effective Erie Canal—1825 Railroads begin in 1830 and take over

Immigration Extensive following Napoleonic Wars Northern and Western Europe America offered land and jobs Early arrivals sent optimistic reports Nativism becomes a problem Know Nothing Party

Irish and Germans Irish—came in the largest numbers—1840 Motives Settled in Eastern cities Employed as manual labor Irish voter groups Catholic church and discrimination Germans Motives Economic conditions Failure of liberal reform Cultural preservation through group settlement

Social Changes in the Early 19th Century Class structure became more pronounced Growth of the business elite Middle class Self-made man Urban poor Journeymen, Artisans lose status

Benevolent Empire Work for social reform Target social ills—temperance Institutionalize charity Upper-class women supported this activity Encouraged well-disciplined lives Sylvester Graham

Second Great Awakening and Reform Accelerated by Charles Finney Former Lawyer Started full time revivals Anyone can achieve salvation People had free will Bred reform movements American Temperance Society