Bell Work What types of immigrants were coming to the US during the Antebellum period? –Which ones were liked? –Which ones were disliked?

Irish Immigration Irish Potato Famine Main ports of entry – New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Boston Irish were too poor to move inland and farm so they stayed in the cities –Boston did not particularly like the Irish – catholic, illiterate, poor –“No Irish need apply!” Ancient Order of Hibernians –Benevolent society to help Irish –Spawned “Molly Maguires” (miners union) Gradually improved and became active politically – NY’s Tammany Hall, Irish political machine

German Immigration Most Germans came due to crop failures –Germans better off than Irish, came west, many to Wisconsin A few were political refugees from collapse of democratic revolutions in 1848 German contributions include Kentucky rifle, Christmas tree, kindergarten, and abolitionists Some Americans were suspicious because they tried to preserve language, culture and lived in separate communities, and drank beer

Sources of Immigration,

Settlements of Immigrants Irish in Northeastern cities: New York and Boston Germans would settle in Midwest

Early Nativism American “nativists” feared 1840s & 1850s invasion of immigrants –Took jobs, grew Roman Catholicism –Catholics built their own schools, were #1 denomination by : Nativists form Order of the Star-Spangled Banner, developed into “Know-Nothing” party –Wanted immigration restrictions –Nativists occasionally violent, burned Boston convent (1834) –Philadelphia Irish fought back, 13 killed in several days of fighting (1844)

The “Know-Nothings” [The American Party]  Nativists.  Anti- Catholics.  Anti- immigrants.  Nativists.  Anti- Catholics.  Anti- immigrants  Secret Order of the Star- Spangled Banner created in NYC.

Industry Changes

A shift from goods made by hand to factory and mass production Technological innovations brought production from farmhouse to factories –Invented in Britain in 1750; smuggled to U.S. –Beginning of US Factory System US slow to embrace factory system –Scarce labor –Little capital –Superiority of British factories

Resourcefulness & Experimentation  Americans were willing to try anything.  They were first copiers, then innovators.  Americans were willing to try anything.  They were first copiers, then innovators  41 patents were approved  4,357 “ “ “ 1800  41 patents were approved  4,357 “ “ “

Eli Whitney’s cotton gin revolutionized the cotton industry. He is also noted for the concept of mass production and interchangeable parts by creating dyes for pistols and rifles. Very important early pioneer in America’s industrial revolution. The invention which changed the South, cotton and slavery.

Whitney Ends the Fiber Famine Cotton gin invented in 1793 –50 times more effective than hand picking Raising cotton more profitable –South needs slavery more than ever for “King Cotton” HNew England factories flourish with Southern cotton

Cotton Gin Increased exports for the South Planters became rich Increased demand for slaves Effects

Eli Whitney’s Gun Factory Interchangeable Parts Rifle

1830s, Industrialization grew throughout the North… Southern cotton shipped to Northern textile mills was a good working relationship.

Workers & Wage Slaves With industrial revolution, large impersonal factories surrounded by slums full of “wage slaves” developed Long hours, low wages, unsanitary conditions, lack of heat, etc. –Labor unions illegal 1820: 1/2 of industrial workers were children under 10

Workers & Wage Slaves 1820s & 1830s: right to vote for laborers –Loyalty to Democratic party led to improved conditions –Fought for 10-hour day, higher wages, better conditions 1830s & 1840s: Dozens of strikes for higher wages or 10-hour day –1837 depression hurt union membership Commonwealth v. Hunt –Supreme Court ruled unions not illegal conspiracies as long as they were peaceful

Women & the Economy 1850: 10% of white women working for pay outside home –Vast majority of working women were single –Left paying jobs upon marriage “Cult of domesticity” –Cultural idea that glorifies homemaker Empowers married women –Increased power & independence of women in home led to decline in family size

Industrialists and Inventors Development or Invention Samuel Slater Francis C. Lowell Eli Whitney Samuel F.B. Morse steamboat Textile machine Mass production of textiles Interchangeable parts Telegraph; Morse code Robert Fulton American Inventions

Transportation Industrialization Railroads: enabled trains to travel fast and go wherever track was laid Steamboats: made river travel more reliable Erie canal: connected the Hudson River at Albany to Lake Erie at Buffalo N.Y Manufacturing went from hand tools to large complex machines Interchangeable parts transformed One-by-one process into a factory Process. Telegraph quickly sent Messages over long-distances National Road: major east-west Highway that reached from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) Skilled artisans gave way to Workers organized by tasks Factories replaced home- based Work manufactures sold wares nationwide

Highways Bad roads made transportation highly unreliable The National Road begun in 1811 and completed by 1832 –Connected Maryland to Illinois. –Built by US government

Cumberland (National Road), 1811

Erie Canal System

Principal Canals in 1840

Inland Freight Rates

Help unite the country as well as improve the economy and the infant industry. Because of the British blockade during the War of 1812, it was essential for internal transportation improvements.

The Railroad Revolution,1850s 1850 to 1860, RR proved most significant development toward national economy Americans demanded transcontinental railroad to California. –Completed by 1869.

Pioneer Railroad Promoters 1800 to 1850: Roads, canals, navigable rivers with steamboats were the main modes of transportation to 1860, RR proved most significant development toward national economy Competition between Railroads and Canals Obstacles –opposition from canal backers –danger of fire –poor brakes –difference in track gauge meant changing trains

Effects of the Transportation Revolution , Pony Express connected East-West Telegraph instantly sent messages across US Attraction of many large capital investments and encouraged risk taking in the US economy People moved faster and country expanded –Unifying spirit among fellow country men –A need for a transcontinental railroad that connected east to west

Telegraph revolutionized communication Would replace the Pony Express by 1861

ECONOMIC? SOCIAL? POLITICAL? FUTURE PROBLEMS?

Wrap Up How might these changes affect the role of women in the US?