Chapter 14: Forging the National Economy, In the first half of the 19 th century the United States was growing at a rapid rate. The population was moving west and the national economy was thriving.

Westward Movement Conestoga Wagon The West offered opportunities and new questions REASONS: 1.) Native Americans being driven off their land 2.) New land to replace soil exhausted by years of farming 3.) War and embargo caused people to move 4.) Transportation improved: roads, canals, RRs, and steamboats 5.) Immigration by Europeans

Missouri Compromise

Population Growth Between 1800 and 1825 the population doubled Between 1825 and 1850 it doubled again High birthrate and immigration By 1830s almost 1/3 of the population lived west of the Alleghenies Ecological Imperialism: exploiting the bounty of the West Growth of cities = unsanitary conditions

Alleghany Mountains

Transportation Roads: By the 1820s, roads connected most of the country’s major cities. National (Cumberland) Road stretched from MD to IL. Interstate: Within more than one state Intrastate: Within one state

National (Cumberland) Road

Transportation Canals: The Erie Canal was constructed from and linked the frontier to NYC Boomtowns: Rochester, Buffalo, Lockport, Syracuse and Utica Stimulated economic growth and soon more states built canals Improved transportation meant lower food prices and more immigration

Erie Canal

Rochester and the Erie Canal

Erie Canal and Rochester

Transportation Robert Fulton’s Clermont. The World’s First Successful Steamboat Steamboats: began in 1807, with the Clermont on the Hudson River Makes transportation on the nation’s rivers faster and cheaper Railroads: built in late 1820s, more rapid and reliable. Soon competing with canals. Boomtowns: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit and Chicago

Immigration From 1832 on that number of immigrants coming to the U.S. increased dramatically 1830s-1850s nearly 4 million arrive in the U.S. Most arrive in Boston, NYC, and Philadelphia WHY? 1.) Ocean transportation was improving – faster and cheaper 2.) Reputation of U.S. for opportunity and freedom 3.) Famines and revolutions in Europe

The Irish Irish immigrants leaving for America, 1846 During this period (1840s and 1850s), roughly half of the immigrants came from Ireland Potato famine! Faced discrimination upon arrival in U.S. (Catholic, competition for jobs) Eventually entered local politics Joined Democratic Party Organized fellow immigrants to join

The Irish “The Usual Irish Way of Doing Things” By Thomas Nast

Irish Famine Memorial, Boston

The Germans Economic hardship and failed revolution (1848) caused Germans to seek refuge in the U.S. Skilled as farmers and artisans At first their political influence was limited, but later they became more active in public life Strong supporters of education and anti-slavery

The Germans

Nativists Native born Americans were alarmed by the influx of immigrants Job competition Catholic vs. Protestant Weaken Anglo majority This leads to sporadic rioting in big cities The Order of the Star- Spangled Banner American Party or Know Nothing Party

Nativists

Growth of Industry At the start of the 19 th century, a manufacturing economy had barely begun. However, by midcentury, manufacturing had surpassed agriculture in value By the end of the century, U.S. manufacturing was the world’s leader A combination of factors led to this

Growth of Industry Mechanical Inventions: inventors looked to patent new machines that made work faster and easier In 1793 Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin and during the War of 1812 he devised a system to make rifles out of interchangeable parts

Growth of Industry Factory system: first U.S. factory est. in 1791 thanks to Samuel Slater. He smuggled secrets from Britain for cotton- spinning machines The Embargo Act, War of 1812 and tariffs helped stimulate the economy New England leads the way with its water power and seaports Banking and insurance businesses grow

Growth of Industry Textile Mill in Lowell, MA Labor: Competition with lure of cheap land out West Textile mills in Lowell, MA recruited young women Child labor Toward middle of the 19 th century, immigrants were being widely employed Unions: Trade or craft unions formed, shoemakers and weavers Wanted to reduce workday, but there was much opposition

Cotton and the South Throughout the 19 th century the main cash crop was cotton Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin transformed the South Slavery increased and land in AL and MS was used for growing cotton Most of the cotton went overseas to Britain

Market Revolution Urbanization, industrialization, specialization on the farms and the birth of modern capitalism brought many changes Farmer fed urban workers and urban worker provided mass produced goods for the farmers Producer culture to consumer culture Standard of living increased New challenges and problems

Women As American society became more industrialized, work changed Women were either in domestic service or teaching Most working women were single, married stayed at home Less arranged marriages, less children Still lacked many rights (suffrage) Cult of domesticity: women as household caretakers/moral leaders and educators

Economic and Social mobility Gap between rich and poor grows Social mobility did exist and opportunity was better than in Europe

Slavery Many felt that as the 19 th century began, slavery would gradually disappear Importation of slaves banned in 1808 Rapid growth of cotton industry increases the “need” for slaves No clear answers What do we do with western lands?