The People and Culture of the Frontier West settled to escape overpopulation, rising land prices, worn-out soil West settled to escape overpopulation, rising land prices, worn-out soil Settlers bring culture with them Settlers bring culture with them Cooperation, strong community necessary for survival Cooperation, strong community necessary for survival Land values rise rapidly in a few years Land values rise rapidly in a few years Price rise encourages rootlessness as many sell out and move on Price rise encourages rootlessness as many sell out and move on

A Revolution in Transportation Primitive land transportation in the East was offset by shipping via the coastal waterways Primitive land transportation in the East was offset by shipping via the coastal waterways After the War of 1812 political leaders recognized the need the need to improve the country’s transportation network After the War of 1812 political leaders recognized the need the need to improve the country’s transportation network

Roads and Steamboats National Road from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, Virginia National Road from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, Virginia Private turnpikes built by entrepreneurs Private turnpikes built by entrepreneurs Roads useful but unprofitable Roads useful but unprofitable

Roads and Steamboats (2) Network of rivers encourage economic development Network of rivers encourage economic development Flatboats transport down river early Flatboats transport down river early Steamboats transport upriver after 1811 Steamboats transport upriver after 1811 Upriver capabilities reduce costs Upriver capabilities reduce costs Steamboat traffic stimulates Congress to establish safety regulations Steamboat traffic stimulates Congress to establish safety regulations

The Canal Boom Erie Canal first transportation link between East and West, 1825 Erie Canal first transportation link between East and West, 1825 Canal cuts East-West transportation costs dramatically Canal cuts East-West transportation costs dramatically Canal stimulates commercial growth of New York City Canal stimulates commercial growth of New York City

Emergence of a Market Economy Canals cut shipping expenses for western farmers and eastern manufacturers Canals cut shipping expenses for western farmers and eastern manufacturers Steamboats on the rivers also reduced shipping costs and stimulated commercial agriculture Steamboats on the rivers also reduced shipping costs and stimulated commercial agriculture

The Beginning of Commercial Agriculture Lower transportation costs mean greater income for the farmer Lower transportation costs mean greater income for the farmer Sale to distant markets involves farmers in a complex system of credit Sale to distant markets involves farmers in a complex system of credit Market stimulates specialization Market stimulates specialization  Ohio Valley produces wheat  Lower South produces cotton

Commerce and Banking Commercial farming stimulates new system of marketing Commercial farming stimulates new system of marketing Farmers borrow on future crops Farmers borrow on future crops Use of credit stimulates banking Use of credit stimulates banking State banks increase after 1812 State banks increase after Second Bank of the United States created to check state banks Second Bank of the United States created to check state banks Bank’s easy credit sparks Panic of 1819 Bank’s easy credit sparks Panic of 1819

Early Industrialism Rise in manufacturing after 1812 Rise in manufacturing after 1812 Traditional methods but innovative financing through “putting out” system Traditional methods but innovative financing through “putting out” system  “putting-out”--merchants deliver raw materials for farm families, artisans to process Textile industry leads development of factory system Textile industry leads development of factory system

Internal Expansionism ► “Young Americans” link territorial growth to other material achievements  technological innovation—e.g. telegraph  transportation improvements  growth of trade  mass immigration ► Discovery of California gold inspires transcontinental projects ► Territorial expansion wanes after 1848, economic, population growth continues

The Triumph of the Railroad ► 1840s--railroad begins displacing canals ► Rail construction stimulates iron industry ► Railroads stimulate new forms of finance  bonds  preferred stock  government subsidies

Railroads, 1850 and 1860

The Industrial Revolution Takes Off ► Mass production, the division of labor makes production more efficient ► Factory system emerges  gather laborers in one place for supervision  cash wages  “continuous process" of manufacturing ► Agriculture becomes mechanized ► Northern economy based on interaction of industry, transportation, agriculture

Mass Immigration Begins ► million Irish, Germans immigrate to U.S. ► Most come for higher wages ► Immigrants fill low-paying jobs in port cities ► Low immigrant wages contribute to slums ► Urban reform movement results

Immigration to the United States,

The New Working Class ► 1840s--factory labor begins shifting from women, children to men ► Immigrants dominate new working class ► Employers less involved with laborers ► Post-1837 employers demand more work for less pay ► Unions organized to defend worker rights

The New Working Class (2) ► Wage laborers resent discipline, continuous nature of factory work ► Workers cling to traditional work habits ► Adjustment to new work style was painful and took time

The Costs of Expansion ► Working class poses problem for ideals  working for wages assumed the first step toward becoming one’s own master  new class of permanent wage-earners conflicts with old ideal ► Economic expansion creates conflicts between classes ► Territorial expansion creates conflicts between sections ► Both sets of conflicts uncontrollable

Economic Issues n Interest in government economic policy intensified after 1819 n Some wanted to do away with banks, paper money, and easy credit n Others wanted more government aid n Political parties took stands on the role of the federal government in economic growth

Labor Radicalism and Equal Rights n Working men’s parties and trade unions emerged in the 1820s and 1830s n They advocated public education reform, a ten-hour workday, an end to debtors prison, and hard currency n They made some gains but they proved to be only temporary n The women’s rights movement and abolitionists made little progress