 After War of 1812  Surge in nationalism  Period of James Monroe’s presidency  One-party system  Improved infrastructure and protected the domestic economy

 Spain lost its empire and wanted it back  Russia was entering N.A. in the West  U.S. had to respond  Monroe Doctrine  European powers will stay out of N.A.  The U.S. will stay out of Europe’s affairs

1. Roads and Turnpikes -National road (MD to WV) -most toll roads built by private companies 2. Canals -Erie Canal (connected Lake Erie and Hudson River) -steamboats and barges moved items faster

3. Railroads - “Iron Horse” -could go nearly anywhere -steam powered

1. Urbanization a. Positives: - many workers - factories - blend of cultures b. Negatives - crime - overcrowding - public health problems

2. Education - middle and upper class boys - available to women after 1830s (still mainly taught at home) 3. Commerce -goods could be bought instead of produced (bread, clothes, candles)

4. Farm Life - still the leading economic activity - entire family shared the work - produced a surplus; supplied the Eastern cities with food

1. Cotton becomes King - production doubled between 1820 and 1840, then again 1840 and sold to Europe 2. Remained mainly rural - three big cities: Baltimore, Charleston, New Orleans 3. Very little industry - did have: coal and copper mines, textile mills, and ironworks

4. Relied heavily on imports -clothing and food 5. Defined class structure a. Wealthy planters - smallest group - made the most money b. Yeoman farmers -majority of population -held fewer than 4 slaves

c. White, rural poor - lived on unfarmable land - raised animals d. Slaves -93% of African Americans were enslaved - made up about 37% of the pop. in the South