lecture 15 a

Forging the Forging the National National

EconomyEconomy1790-1860

QUICKWRITEQUICKWRITE::How did TWO of the following How did TWO of the following contribute to the reemergence contribute to the reemergence of the two-party system in the of the two-party system in the period 1820 to 1840?period 1820 to 1840?

Major political personalitiesMajor political personalitiesStates’ rightsStates’ rightsEconomic issuesEconomic issues

Creating the Creating the American American CharacterCharacter

Westward movement continued1850 – population center located west of Alleghenies

Effects of the WildernessYoung population constantly in motion

Importance of wealth & the constant pursuit of wealth

American pioneersRough charactersWilderness required hard work & left little time for slacking

Self-centered, provincial, & isolationist“self-reliance”

Contrasted with the need to work togetherlog-rolling & barn raising

American tall-tales & exaggeration

Boasting & bluffing (poker playing)

Gambling, drinking & fighting

Effects on the Wilderness Kentucky cane fields burned off & planted with bluegrass

Mountain men began to “trap out” the beaver in the Rocky Mountains

The Buffalo Vast herds of American Bison covered the Great Plains

Estimated pre-European herd size:30,000,000 to 70,000,000

Buffalo hunters, trading in furs and tongues, began to kill off the great herds

Unregulated killing of bison led to the reduction of the herds to no more than 1500 individuals in the mid to late 1800

Bison RangeBison Range

California OtterHighly prized pelts of the Pacific Sea Otter led trappers to hunt the animals to near extinction

American’s love of the WildPraised the unspoiled wilderness & the beauty of nature

This ideal of the idyllic came to be expressed in arts & literature

George CatlinGeorge CatlinPainter & student of

the Native AmericansWished to preserve

the natural beauty of the west

Proposed the creation of National Parks

George CatlinGeorge CatlinCorn

Buffalo Bulls Running

George Caleb BinghamGeorge Caleb BinghamBoatmen on the Missouri

Fur Traders Descending on the Missouri

The Hudson River SchoolThe Hudson River Schoolby Thomas Cole

Demographic ChangesDemographic ChangesPopulation doubling

every 25 yearsPopulation moving

farther west every 10 years

By 1860… 33 states 4th most populous country in the western world

43 cities over 20,000

American Population Centers in 1820

American Population Centers in 1820

American Population Centers in 1860

American Population Centers in 1860

Rapid urbanization led to many problems Slums, filth, & crimeCities slowly began to build water & sewer services

Immigration tripled in the 1840’s & quadrupled in the 1850’s

Many push & pull factors brought immigrants to America

National Origin of Immigrants:1820 - 1860

National Origin of Immigrants:1820 - 1860

Why now?Why now?

Irish ImmigrantsIrish Immigrants1844 – The Potato Famine

Potato blight in Ireland led to famine & massive emigration

1830-1860: Largest immigrant group2 million

Irish Catholics moved to the large citiesNew York & Boston

Anti-Irish prejudiceNINA: “No Irish Need Apply”

Catholic & poor

Anti-Catholic riots in Philadelphia & Boston

Black & Irish relations bad Ancient Order of

Hibernians helped to get better conditions

Irish votes gained power Tammany Hall

Many became policemen

GermansGermans1830-1860: 1.5 million

came to AmericaMiddle class farmers &

political refugeesMoved to the Mid-West

Many isolationists Most better educatedOften abolitionistsKindergarten, beer, &

the hot dog

NativismNativism“Hatred of foreigners”Anti-Catholic prejudice

led to the creation of Catholic parochial schools

1849 - Order of the Star-Spangled Banner formedLed to the creation of the American Party

“Know-Nothings”Wanted immigration & naturalization restrictions

““Citizen Know-Nothing”Citizen Know-Nothing”

The Industrial The Industrial RevolutionRevolution

1750 – Industrial Revolution begins in Britain

Slow to arrive in America because:Land cheapLabor scarce

Capital investment not plentiful

Raw materials undiscovered

Consumers scarceLong established British factories more competitive

Britain had a monopoly on textile machinery

Samuel Slater (1791)“Father of the American Factory System”

Built first U.S. factory - a Textile mill in Rhode Island

Eli Whitney (1793)Invented the Cotton GinMade cotton profitable & slavery an institution in the South

The Cotton EngineThe Cotton Engine

1798 – Whitney later develops the idea of interchangeable parts which leads to mass production

Rise of nationalism increased the call to “buy American”

Embargo, Non-Intercourse, & the War of 1812 increased need for American made goods

Treaty of Ghent Britain began dumping its products into America

Led to many US mills closing down

US reacts with the Tariff of 1816 & beginnings of protectionism

1814 – 1st Spinning-Weaving cloth factory built in Waltham, Mass.Manufacturing goes from home to factory

Lowell GirlsBoston Associates

Sewing MachineSewing Machine Elias Howe

(1846) invents the sewing machine

Later perfected by Isaac Singer

1844 - Samuel F.B. Morse invents the Telegraph & Morse Code“What hath God wrought”

The Single Current The Single Current Morse Key Morse Key

Why New England?Why New England?Poor, rocky soilDense populationShipping & seaports made

importing raw materials practical

Water power from rivers

New New EnglandEnglandTextileTextile

Centers:Centers:

1830s1830s

New New EnglandEnglandTextileTextile

Centers:Centers:

1830s1830s

New England Dominance in New England Dominance in TextilesTextilesNew England Dominance in New England Dominance in TextilesTextiles

CorporationsCorporations“Limited Liability”

More people risk capital1848 – 1st General

Incorporation Law in NYCreating a corporation became easier

Creating a Business-Friendly ClimateCreating a Business-Friendly ClimateCreating a Business-Friendly ClimateCreating a Business-Friendly Climate

Supreme Court Rulings:Supreme Court Rulings: * * Fletcher v. PeckFletcher v. Peck (1810) (1810) * * Dartmouth v. WoodwardDartmouth v. Woodward (1819) (1819) * * McCulloch v. MarylandMcCulloch v. Maryland (1819) (1819) * * Gibbons v. OgdenGibbons v. Ogden (1824) (1824) * * Charles Rivers Bridge v. WarrenCharles Rivers Bridge v. Warren Bridge Bridge (1835) (1835)

General Incorporation Law General Incorporation Law passed in passed in New York, New York, 1848.1848.Laissez faire Laissez faire BUT, govt. did much to BUT, govt. did much to

assist capitalism! assist capitalism!

Distribution of WealthDistribution of WealthDistribution of WealthDistribution of Wealthv During the American Revolution,During the American Revolution,

45% of all wealth in the top 10% of45% of all wealth in the top 10% ofthe population.the population.

v 1845 Boston 1845 Boston top 4% owned over top 4% owned over 65% of the wealth. 65% of the wealth.

v 1860 Philadelphia 1860 Philadelphia top 1% owned top 1% owned over 50% of the wealth. over 50% of the wealth.

v The gap between rich and poor wasThe gap between rich and poor was widening! widening!

Labor ChangesLabor Changes Industrialization led to

an increase in factories in “Spindle Cities”

Factories filled with “Wage Slaves” who lived in slum conditions

Independent Craftsmen & home workers moved to the factory

Men, women,& children worked 6 days a week, 12-13 hours a day for pennies

Labor Unions forbidden by lawStrikes uncommon before 1830’s

1830’s & 1840’s saw increase in labor Unions & Trade organization for higher wages & the 10-hour day

1840 - President Van Buren establishes the 10-hour day for federal employees

Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842) declares labor unions legal

Changing Occupation Distributions:Changing Occupation Distributions:1820 - 18601820 - 1860

Changing Occupation Distributions:Changing Occupation Distributions:1820 - 18601820 - 1860

Women in the Workforce Women in the Workforce Lowell factory system

in Mass. considered to be a showcaseFactory girls lived & worked under supervision

The Lowell/Waltham System:The Lowell/Waltham System:First Dual-Purpose Textile PlantFirst Dual-Purpose Textile PlantThe Lowell/Waltham System:The Lowell/Waltham System:First Dual-Purpose Textile PlantFirst Dual-Purpose Textile Plant

Francis Cabot Lowell’s town - 1814Francis Cabot Lowell’s town - 1814

Lowell in 1850Lowell in 1850Lowell in 1850Lowell in 1850

Lowell MillLowell MillLowell MillLowell Mill

Lowell GirlsLowell Girls

What was their typical What was their typical “profile?”“profile?”

Lowell Boarding HousesLowell Boarding Houses

Lowell Mills Time Table

Lowell Mills Time Table

Irish Immigrant Girls at LowellIrish Immigrant Girls at Lowell

Role of Women“the submerged sex” Considered perpetual minors & under the control of father or husband

Few jobs available for womenfactory, nurse, & teacher

Catherine Beecher encouraged women to become teachers & the occupation became “feminized”

Women also found work as domestics & nursemaids

“The Cult of Domesticity”Glorified traditional roles of women

Gave women immense moral power over the family & society

FamiliesFamiliesFamilies became smaller

Marriage for love not arrangement

Fertility rates droppedRise of “domestic

feminism” Became more “child

centered”

Agriculture RevolutionAgriculture Revolution

1830sJohn Deere developed the steel plow

Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical mower-reaper

John Deere & the Steel PlowJohn Deere & the Steel Plow(1837)(1837)John Deere & the Steel PlowJohn Deere & the Steel Plow(1837)(1837)

Cyrus McCormickCyrus McCormick& the Mechanical Reaper: 1831& the Mechanical Reaper: 1831

Cyrus McCormickCyrus McCormick& the Mechanical Reaper: 1831& the Mechanical Reaper: 1831

1840-1860: Small-scale & subsistence farming began to give way to extensive, specialized, cash-crop farming

Business farmers replaced Yeomen Farmers

Trans-Allegheny western states begin to out-produce the eastern states

Increased demand for land & machinery led to more debt for farmers

Transportation & Transportation & Communication Communication

RevolutionRevolution

Motivations:Desire of East to tap WestVery poor conditions

existed Significance:

National market economyRegional specialization

TurnpikesTurnpikes1790’s – Completion of

Lancaster Turnpike sparked boom in turnpike construction

First Turnpike- 1790 Lancaster, PA

First Turnpike- 1790 Lancaster, PA

By 1832, nearly 2400 mi. of road By 1832, nearly 2400 mi. of road connected most major cities.connected most major cities.

1811 – Cumberland Road (National Road) begunEventually stretches from Cumberland, MD to Vandalia, Il – connecting Baltimore to St. Louis

Cumberland (National Road), 1811

Cumberland (National Road), 1811

Conestoga WagonConestoga Wagon

Conestoga Covered WagonsConestoga Covered Wagons

Conestoga Trail, 1820sConestoga Trail, 1820s

Rivers Rivers Robert Fulton (1807)

1st Steamboat The Clermont runs up the Hudson

Steamboats revolutionized river travel in the West, replacing the keel boats

Raw materials went east; goods and people went west

CanalsCanals1817-1825: Erie Canal

Governor Dewitt Clinton of New York

Clinton’s “big ditch” was a major success

Linked Great Lakes to Hudson River

The Erie CanalThe Erie CanalBuffalo to NYC:

$100 to $5

20 days to 6 days

Erie Canal SystemErie Canal System

Erie Canal, 1820sErie Canal, 1820s

Begun in 1817; completed in 1825Begun in 1817; completed in 1825

New York City became the largest port in America

Other states followed suit & built miles of canals in the north

Principal Canals in 1840Principal Canals in 1840Principal Canals in 1840Principal Canals in 1840

RailroadsRailroads1828: Baltimore & Ohio

railroad is begun in Baltimore

“Tom Thumb” (1830)Locomotive on the B&O Railroad raced a horse drawn car & lost

Early railroads were dangerous & unreliable, but improved with time

The Pullman Sleeping “Palace” Car was invented in 1859

By 1860, the US had 30,000 miles of railroad track 3/4 in the North

Inland Freight RatesInland Freight Rates

Regional Regional SpecializationSpecialization

East made machines & textiles

South raised cotton for export

West grew grain & livestock

ShippingShipping Foreign trade = 7%

Import manufactured goodsExport agricultural goods

Clipper ShipsDonald McKay’s naval yard

in Boston builds the firstFaster than competitors

Racing ‘round the HornRacing ‘round the Horn

American shipping had a brief period of glory & set trans-oceanic speed records

Britain will regain dominance with the tramp steamer ship

CommunicationCommunicationCyrus Field (1858)

Lays the first transatlantic cable

It breaks

The Pony Express (1860) established - ran mail from St. Louis to Sacramento

Lasted a legendary 18 months

1st transcontinental cable is laid in 1861

Transcontinental railroad will follow after the Civil War

1866 – permanent transatlantic cable established linking Europe with North America