The American Industrial Revolution The Division of Labor and the Factory: Whether at home (putting-out system), or a factory, work became more rote and efficient by doing specific tasks (Later known as the assembly line) Seen in slaughterhouses and shoe factories The Textile Industry and British Competition: The British government forbid mechanics and machines to leave Britain Samuel Slater – emigrated to America from England – and became known as the Father of the American Factory – developed factories that mirrored the British model.

Trade Wars – U.S. v. Britain American vs. British: U.S. Advantages US had a tremendous amount of natural resources – cotton Fast moving rivers for mills US government instituted tariffs on foreign goods British Advantages Britain had a large population (cheap labor) Britain had the ability to ship and manufacture things cheaper Better Machines, Cheaper Workers US improved on British machines Lowell System – farmers’ daughters that worked in factories Lived in housing provided by employers – curfews, no alcohol These women experienced a sense of new found independence

The American Industrial Revolution American Mechanics and Technological Innovation: US patents increased drastically between 1820 and 1860 as inventors began coming up with new machines to improve industrialization Eli Whitney: Cotton gin (1793) – separated cotton from its seeds Interchangeable parts – used for guns, applied to other areas As a result, products became more abundant and cheaper to produce.

Labor Issues Wageworkers and the Labor Movement: Labor Ideology: Workers Formed Unions in an attempt to get better wages: Both English and early American law viewed unions as illegal attempts to “injure employers” Some industries fired workers who joined unions Labor Ideology: Commonwealth v. Hunt (1837) Massachusetts State Supreme Court decision that declared unions legal Labor Theory of Value – the price of goods should reflect the cost of labor and the income made from the sale of the goods should to the workers, not the factory owners

***The Market Revolution*** What is it? Change in labor systems, population, and transportation Greatly affected the Northeast and Midwest part of the U.S. The Transportation Revolution Forges Regional Ties: Growth exploded into the Midwest where the government was selling land to farmers at $1.25/acre More than 5 million people moved west of the Appalachians between 1820-1840 To link the Midwest to the eastern seaboard, government created: National Road (1811) was funded by the federal government Erie Canal(1825) – Albany to Buffalo – and beyond via Great Lakes and rivers 364 mile canal funded by New York state

Railroads (1850s) Link the North and Midwest: Livestock and wheat were transported between the two regions Inventions that helped farmers – McCormick Reaper and Deere’s steel plow The South did not invest in manufacturing, relied on agriculture (cotton) The Growth of Cities and Towns: Cities emerged as trading and manufacturing centers: Cincinnati, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Chicago, etc.