North and South 1820 to 1860 Chapter Fourteen

The North’s Economy Section One

A) Technology and Industry

Northern Factories By the mid 1800’s, most goods produced in the U.S. were made in Northern factories.

Northern Factories Northern factories began dividing up the tasks of large jobs, bringing specialized workers together, and using machines.

Cotton Textiles Elias Howe The mass production of cotton textiles began with the invention of the sewing machine.

U.S. Roads & Canals Between 1800 and 1850, the U.S. built thousands of miles of roads and canals. Steamboats would sail the canals. 

Clipper Ship The clipper ship was the new design of merchant ships.

Peter Cooper The steam locomotive revolutionized the railroad. 

U.S. Railroad Lines The canals and railroads helped link the western states to the Atlantic Ocean, which was a faster way to ship goods.

Samuel Morse In 1844, the invention of the telegraph connected the nation. The telegraph cables would send electric signals, using Morse Code to spell out the alphabet.

John Deere In 1837, John Deere invented the steel tipped plow that could cut through the tougher prairie lands to the west.

Cyrus McCormick The mechanical reaper did the work of many in harvesting wheat.

Wheat Wheat would become the main cash crop of the West.

Northern Factories In the end, the North still relied on its factories and industry for most of their economy.