Economic and Social Divisions between North and South

Sectionalism Concern for local needs and culture supersede interest in the national good Concern for local needs and culture supersede interest in the national good The North became increasingly concerned with industry while the South remained an agrarian, slave-based society The North became increasingly concerned with industry while the South remained an agrarian, slave-based society

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin Developed in 1794 Machine that separated usable cotton from its seeds Made cotton farming more profitable and led to the rise of “King Cotton”, the South’s dependency on the cotton trade Growth in the cotton trade led to further growth in slavery

Interchangeable parts Eli Whitney also developed the idea of making mechanical products out of standardized parts Eli Whitney also developed the idea of making mechanical products out of standardized parts If a part broke, it could be replaced easily with another part just like it If a part broke, it could be replaced easily with another part just like it Whitney first applied this to muskets Whitney first applied this to muskets

Samuel Slater’s “Factory System” 1768 – 1835 British cotton mill manager who violated British emigration law to come to US British did not want secrets of their industrial technologies to spread to other countries

Francis C. Lowell 1775 – – 1817 Studied British textile mills before returning to US and building first industrialized textile mill in the country, in Massachusetts Studied British textile mills before returning to US and building first industrialized textile mill in the country, in Massachusetts One of the first businesses to sell stock to raise capital One of the first businesses to sell stock to raise capital

Life in the Factory Towns Industrial towns in New England are growing. Growing towns include Lowell, MA. Cities in the Midwest start to boom: Pittsburgh, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati. Textiles and clothing (mostly cotton cloth and leather tanning) are the big industries. In some towns, factory owners made life very restrictive.

Let’s look at Lowell Mostly filled with textile mills. Mostly filled with textile mills. Young girls called “mill girls” would work 12 hrs/day, 6 days/week for low wages. Young girls called “mill girls” would work 12 hrs/day, 6 days/week for low wages. 90% of the workforce were women. 90% of the workforce were women. Women had strict lives. Women had strict lives. Factory owners cut jobs and increased demands on workers. Factory owners cut jobs and increased demands on workers. In 1834, the women go on strike after they get a 15% pay cut. In 1834, the women go on strike after they get a 15% pay cut.

Union is POWER The women form a union and strike in The strike fails when the press and town puts pressure on the women. Union leaders are fired and blackballed. The women form a union and strike in The strike fails when the press and town puts pressure on the women. Union leaders are fired and blackballed. In 1836, the women get a 12.5% pay cut and strike again. This time, more women join the strike. In 1836, the women get a 12.5% pay cut and strike again. This time, more women join the strike. Again, the strike failed and union leaders are fired. Again, the strike failed and union leaders are fired.

Why did the North industrialize? Easy to get loans because of the banks. Easy to get loans because of the banks. Few government restrictions. Few government restrictions. Low tax rates. Low tax rates. Easy access to port cities. Easy access to port cities. Cheap labor available because of immigration. Cheap labor available because of immigration. States passed laws which protected business owners from liability to investors for losses. States passed laws which protected business owners from liability to investors for losses. Many streams and rivers to provide water power. Many streams and rivers to provide water power.

Sewing machines Developed by Elias Howe from work of others and patented in 1846 Developed by Elias Howe from work of others and patented in 1846 Opened the way for mass product of finished textiles (cheap, store-bought clothes and linens) Opened the way for mass product of finished textiles (cheap, store-bought clothes and linens)

Question Time 1. Why do you feel that people become easily swayed by sectional feelings? 2. Why did the North become so industrial? 3. Looking at today, how have times changed for the girls working in Lowell compared to how workers work today?

Technology encourages westward expansion, ties North to West

The Erie Canal Completed in 1825 Completed in 1825 Connected Lake Erie to Hudson River Connected Lake Erie to Hudson River Cheap way to travel for families heading west Cheap way to travel for families heading west Connected NYC to Great Lakes, making NYC top commercial center in US Connected NYC to Great Lakes, making NYC top commercial center in US

Steamboats First put into practical commercial use in US in 1807 by Robert Fulton First put into practical commercial use in US in 1807 by Robert Fulton Quickly became the preferred means of travel along major US rivers and the Great Lakes Quickly became the preferred means of travel along major US rivers and the Great Lakes

The National Road Built between 1811 – 1839 Built between 1811 – 1839 US government never finished the road US government never finished the road

Toll roads & turnpikes Privately owned Privately owned By 1821: 4000 miles of toll roads built (almost all in North) By 1821: 4000 miles of toll roads built (almost all in North) Mainly built between Northern cities or to connect the West to Northern cities Mainly built between Northern cities or to connect the West to Northern cities

“Tom Thumb” First American built locomotive First American built locomotive Built by Peter Cooper Built by Peter Cooper Traveled at 10 mph along a 13 mile track around Baltimore Traveled at 10 mph along a 13 mile track around Baltimore Used as a demo only Used as a demo only

Railroads Miles of railroad in US Miles of railroad in US 1830: : : : : : : 28, : 28, : 49, : 49, : 87, : 87, : 163, : 163,562 Miles of railroad in South Miles of railroad in South 1830: : : : : : : : : 10, : 10, : 14, : 14, : 27, : 27,833

Telegraph Developed by Samuel Morse in 1837 Developed by Samuel Morse in 1837 Allowed long-distance communication through coded electrical impulses sent through wires Allowed long-distance communication through coded electrical impulses sent through wires Allowed news to travel quickly through the nation Allowed news to travel quickly through the nation

Steel plow Iron plows worked poorly in American Midwest due to loamy soil Iron plows worked poorly in American Midwest due to loamy soil Steel plow developed by blacksmith John Deere in 1837 Steel plow developed by blacksmith John Deere in 1837 Tens-of-thousands sold, made the Great Plains “America’s Bread Basket” Tens-of-thousands sold, made the Great Plains “America’s Bread Basket”

McCormick Reaper Horse-drawn machine which harvested wheat; harvest now required less labor Invented by Cyrus McCormick (with the help of a slave) in 1834 Went into mass production in 1847

Question Time 4. If you were a congressman, would you have asked that we build more roads and canals? Why or why not? 5. What do you think had a bigger impact, the Erie Canal or railroads? 6. How did the steel plow and McCormick reaper change farming forever?

Social differences fuel sectionalism

North vs. South: Key Differences North North Economy based on the “factory system”: manufacturing and commerce Economy based on the “factory system”: manufacturing and commerce Relied on plentiful immigrant labor Relied on plentiful immigrant labor Favored high tariffs that protected US industries Favored high tariffs that protected US industries Wanted a strong federal government to build transportation networks, protect trade, and regulate the economy Wanted a strong federal government to build transportation networks, protect trade, and regulate the economy South South Economy based on the “plantation system”: large- scale farming of cash crops Economy based on the “plantation system”: large- scale farming of cash crops Relied on slave labor Relied on slave labor Opposed to high tariffs – imported many European goods, feared Europeans would retaliate by putting tariffs on Southern agricultural exports Opposed to high tariffs – imported many European goods, feared Europeans would retaliate by putting tariffs on Southern agricultural exports Favored strong state government, feared a strong federal government would restrict slavery Favored strong state government, feared a strong federal government would restrict slavery

Growth of Northern cities Causes of growth: Causes of growth: Urbanization: people move from country to cities Urbanization: people move from country to cities Immigration: European immigrants arrived at northern ports, tended to stay in north or go west Immigration: European immigrants arrived at northern ports, tended to stay in north or go west

North’s population growth worried the South Number of seats in the House of Representatives is based purely on population, so North was gaining control of one house of Congress Number of seats in the House of Representatives is based purely on population, so North was gaining control of one house of Congress Slaves only counted as 3/5ths of a person, naturalized immigrants counted as a whole person for population counts Slaves only counted as 3/5ths of a person, naturalized immigrants counted as a whole person for population counts

Slavery 1808: Congress banned the importation of new slaves 1808: Congress banned the importation of new slaves 1820: 1.5 million slaves in US 1820: 1.5 million slaves in US 1850: 4 million slaves in US 1850: 4 million slaves in US Demand for slaves grew as demand for cotton grew Demand for slaves grew as demand for cotton grew

Slave ownership 1850: South’s white pop = 6 million 1850: South’s white pop = 6 million 1850: South’s slave pop = 3.6 million 1850: South’s slave pop = 3.6 million 350,000 slave owners 350,000 slave owners 37,000 owned 20+ slaves 37,000 owned 20+ slaves 8,000 owned 50+ slaves 8,000 owned 50+ slaves 11 owned 500+ slaves 11 owned 500+ slaves

Slavery in the South By 1830, there were 2 million slaves in the South. By 1830, there were 2 million slaves in the South. Most slave owners had less than 10 slaves. Most slave owners had less than 10 slaves. Only 5% of slave owners had plantations of over 100 slaves and only 8% of slaves lived with 100+ slaves. Only 5% of slave owners had plantations of over 100 slaves and only 8% of slaves lived with 100+ slaves. Most slaves lived in groups of Most slaves lived in groups of Most slaves on big plantations worked in the fields. Most slaves on big plantations worked in the fields. Some slaves worked as “house slaves” Some slaves worked as “house slaves” House slaves took care of planter’s children and family. House slaves took care of planter’s children and family.

Slavery in the South Slaves worked picking cotton, sugar, and tobacco. Slaves worked picking cotton, sugar, and tobacco. Some places had blacks working in mines or factories. Some places had blacks working in mines or factories. City slaves are treated almost like freemen. City slaves are treated almost like freemen. Slaves bought and sold at auctions. Slaves bought and sold at auctions. Gag rule: Limiting debate on abolitionism and slavery in state legislatures and in Congress. Was repealed in 1845.

The Southern Perspective If slavery is so bad, why do you buy our cotton. If slavery is so bad, why do you buy our cotton. Bible allows it. Gen 9: Bible allows it. Gen 9: Slave are property, not people. Slave are property, not people. We take care of our slaves. We take care of our slaves. Not every planter beats their slave. Not every planter beats their slave. Northern factory owners…do they really care? Northern factory owners…do they really care? They’re better off. They’re better off. A necessary evil. A necessary evil.

Question Time 7. Southerners tried to justify their reasons for having slaves. Why do you think they needed to do this? 8. How different were the North and South? (use examples).

Immigrants Potato famine in Ireland. 1.3 million Irish flee to America in the 1840s and 1850s. Potato famine in Ireland. 1.3 million Irish flee to America in the 1840s and 1850s. We had 20 million people in America in (about 3 million were slaves) We had 20 million people in America in (about 3 million were slaves) Immigrants also come over from Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Immigrants also come over from Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.

Immigration Problems Irish and some Germans were Catholic Irish and some Germans were Catholic “Took our jobs!” “Took our jobs!” Overcrowding in the cities. Overcrowding in the cities. Faced persecution from Nativist groups. Faced persecution from Nativist groups. Fear of these groups. Fear of these groups.

Nativism Many Americans began to oppose immigration and promote the rights of “Native” Americans Many Americans began to oppose immigration and promote the rights of “Native” Americans Resented immigrants taking jobs from American citizens Resented immigrants taking jobs from American citizens

The Know-Nothings 1840s – 1850s 1840s – 1850s Anti-Catholic nativist group Anti-Catholic nativist group To be a member, had to be a male Protestant of English descent over the age of 21 To be a member, had to be a male Protestant of English descent over the age of 21 If questioned about the group, members would reply, “I know nothing” If questioned about the group, members would reply, “I know nothing” Briefly became a political party, with some success in Massachusetts and Illinois Briefly became a political party, with some success in Massachusetts and Illinois Broke apart due to divisions over slavery issue and later will help to form another party… Broke apart due to divisions over slavery issue and later will help to form another party…

Oddly, immigrants were pro-slavery Didn’t want to compete with freed slaves for jobs, so supported Southern slave owners! Didn’t want to compete with freed slaves for jobs, so supported Southern slave owners! Many Irish, in fact, would fight for the South in the Civil War Many Irish, in fact, would fight for the South in the Civil War

Question Time 9. Why were so many immigrants coming to America? 10. How do the prejudices of the Natvists against the Irish remain even today?