1. The Growth of Cities

2. The North Transformed
The industrial revolution helped cities grow during the 1800’s.
Urbanization occured- the growth of cities due to movement of people from rural areas to cities.
Factory jobs provided more opportunities for working class families.
Eastern cities began to be crowded so people started immigrating west.
Growing cities faced many problems: filthy streets, no good sewage system, lack of clean drinking water, and spread of disease.
Fires also were a common problem with most structures made of wood.

3. The Telegraph
Samuel F.B. Morse’s telegraph revolutionized communications in the cities.
The telegraph was a device that used electrical signals to send message quickly over long distances.
“Morse Code” provided signals and dots and dashes that stood for specific letters.
Factories in the east could use Morse Code to communicate with factories in the west.

4. Improvements in farming & manufacturing
The mechanical reaper allowed farmers to cut stalks of wheat much faster than human workers.
Threshers also speeded up the ability to separate the grains
In 1846 the first sewing machine was patented. This changed how clothing and all cloth goods could be made: essentially they became stronger, and more durable.
As clothes became easier to produce people wore different styles more regularly.
By 1860 the factories in the new england states and mid atlantic were producing most of the nations goods.
Over $1 billion was invested in these businesses.

5. Transportation revolution
Steamboats, Clipper Ships, and Railroads changed the way people and goods could be transported in America
Steamboats and clipper ships allowed international trade to go faster and more efficiently between ports.
Railroads could be built anywhere which meant in any weather goods could be brought anywhere that the railroad traveled.
Later inventors introduced the steam locomotive which enabled railroad trains to travel farther distances without stopping miles of railway track was built by 1840

6. Immigration boom
Immigrants from western Europe specifically Germany and Ireland came to the US in search of jobs and opportunities they couldn’t have in their own country.
Irish immigrants came mainly to escape the potato famine of 1845 (the men who came immediately got work on laying railway track, and construction)
German immigrants came to escape the harsh rulers in Germany at the time
Some Americans worried that too many immigrants meant the population of the US would swell and jobs would be lost for existing citizens. (called nativists: people who wanted to preserve the country for white American born protestants)

7. Discrimination continues
African Americans faced more discrimination than immigrants in the North
Slavery had almost ended in the North by the 1800’s and even though many African Americans had freedom, they were not treated as equals
Racial segregation of schools, businesses, restaurants, and hospitals continued
Newspapers portrayed African Americans as negative outlaws who were inferior. This caused many former slaves to start their own all black publications.