Antebellum Life
Cotton Gin Before- Slavery was on the decline After – resurgence in demand for slavery Indian Removal Act opened up gulf states to cotton production and plantation slavery What does it do? Separates cotton from seeds “Cotton is King”
Immigration 1840-1860 Irish and German immigrants Push factors European Caste System Old World population increase Pull factors Land to farm Factories Low taxes Steamships – travel 10-12 days
Immigration Continued Potato famine in Ireland NY largest city Menial labor for little pay
Hostility towards Immigrants Nativism Hostility towards immigrants by native born Feared competition for jobs Feared Catholic influence NINA Tammany Hall American Party – “Know-Nothings” Violence
The Lowell Mills Cotton-to-cloth production Recruited young New England Girls Lowell Girls Company boarding houses 80 hours a week, 6 days a week 5am-7pm
Samuel Morse John Deere Steel blade plow Telegraph “Morse Code”
Cyrus McCormick Mechanical Reaper Single farmer – work of five men Small – large markets
Transportation National Road Steamboat Robert Fulton Erie Canal