The Industrial Revolution

Essential Questions How did the industrial revolution begin and spread? How did transportation and communication improve? How did the US economy expand?

The Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution: An ongoing effort over many decades to increase production by using machines rather than the power of humans or animals.

Industrial Revolution British inventors started the industrial revolution. Inventions changed the way cloth was made. Increase efficiency and increase profits. Water frame Power loom Spinning jenny

Coming to America British guarded their industrial secrets. Samuel Slater sneaked out of the country. Built machines from memory in 1790. By 1814, America had 240 mills like Slater's.

Interchangeable Parts Eli Whitney built 10,000 rifles for the American military using interchangeable parts - all parts are made to an exact standard. Before – one gunsmith makes each part After – each part is made the same

The Cotton Gin In 1794, Eli Whitney built a machine that could pull the seeds out of cotton as fast as 40 men.

Effects of the Cotton Gin Because of rising profits, many began to rely on cotton as their only crop. Profit from cotton skyrocketed, rising 6,000%. Because so many grew cotton, more land was needed to grow it – Alabama, Mississippi, Texas. To keep up with demand, more slaves were needed – the slave population doubled by 1820.

Transportation - Roads Then – “Corduroy roads” Now – Cumberland Road - 1811-1833

Transportation - Water Steam engine Canal

The Railroad

Communication The cost of postage fell, and postal organization improved. Improvements in education led to increased literacy. More than 500 newspapers and magazines were being published daily by 1820.

Free-Enterprise System The free enterprise system, also known as capitalism: an economic system in which private companies compete for profits. This system rewards people who can find better, faster, and more efficient ways of running their businesses. This system allowed for America's economy to expand at an ever-increasing rate.

An Expanding Economy The Market Revolution: A change in the way Americans made, bought, and sold goods, borrowed and circulated money, and created wealth.

Rise of Manufacturing With the rise of machinery came manufacturing: the use of machinery to make products. A growing number of Americans were working outside the home. The center of American manufacturing became New England, because of abundant water power.

Rise of Shopping Factories produced goods at an astounding rate at ever lower prices. The self-sufficient household of Jefferson's dreams began to disappear. In its place arose a system where people worked for money and used it to buy everything.