THE RAPID GROWTH OF INDUSTRY1840-1860

Obj: To understand how technological improvements increased industrial productivity

by looking at the factors that encouraged industrial growth.

THE INDUSTRIAL NORTHTECHNOLOGY: application of science to improving

conveniences of life - 1829

• NORTHEAST RESPONSIBLE FOR ½ OF U.S. PRODUCTION ON EVE OF CIVIL WAR

• SHIFT IN ENERGY SOURCE LEADS TO CHANGE IN FACTORY SYSTEM

• H20 TO COAL• COAL: TRANSPORTED CHEAPLY,

HEAT FOR SMELTING & METALWORKING, STEAMPOWER –FACTORIES NOW CAN BE BUILT ANYWHERE

• FACTORIES OPERATE 24/7• EMBRACING TECHNOLOGICAL

CHANGE GREATEST TRIUMPH • SANDUSKY WHEEL WORKS, OHIO

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE• RESOURCEFULNESS REQUIRED

DUE TO DEMANDS OF SOCIETY IN FLUX

• MORE SOPHISTICATED & RELIABLE TOOLS

• SHORTAGE OF LABOR SO NEED LABOR SAVING DEVICES

• IMPROVE OLD MACHINES & DESIGN NEW ONES

• USE OF INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS – Whitney first for musket parts

• NEW DISCOVERIES OF NATURAL RESOURCES AS MIGRATE WEST

LABOR: SKILLED & UNSKILLED• PRODUCTION EXPANDS & DIVISION

OF LABOR MORE COMPLEX• SOCIAL DIVISIONS MORE APPARENT• SKILLED LABOR ALWAYS IN DEMAND

BUT CREATIVITY A MUST DUE TO INCREASE IN TECHNOLOGY

• UNSKILLED LABOR ALWAYS HAS WORK BUT NEVER ENOUGH PAY

• NEW WAY OF PRODUCTION:• EXPAND ON LOWELL & WALTHAM • WAGE WORK BECOMES END IN

ITSELF• CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURING

PROCESS BUT NOT YET MASS PRODUCTION

IMMIGRATION • WESTERN EUROPE PUSH – POTATO FAMINE IN IRELAND & REVOLUTION

IN GERMANY • 1820 to 1860, 1,956,557 IRISH ARRIVED; 75% OF THESE AFTER THE GREAT

FAMINE 1840-1852• BETWEEN 1840-1880 GERMANS LARGEST IMMIGRANT GROUP• LANGUAGE HELD THEM TOGETHER & CREATED SELF SUFFICIENT GERMAN

COMMUNITIES (LEVI STRAUSS, STEINWAY)• 5 MILLION 1815-1860; 4.2 MILL 1840-60; 3 MILL 1845-52• LOWELL & WALTHAM SYSTEMS AT LEAST 50% IRISH IMMIGRANTS BY

1850• CHEAP LABOR, WILLING TO WORK LONG HOURS, HARSH CONDITIONS &

YOUNG WOMEN & THEIR FAMILIES NOT WILLING (MIDDLE CLASS)• POOR WHITE WOMEN & THEIR CHILDREN WILL FIND PAID WORK TO HELP

THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME• LABOR DEMANDS INCREASE AS ESTABLISHED FOLKS MOVE WEST• GERMANS MOVE BECAUSE MANY HAVE MONEY, IRISH STAY IN BOSTON,

NY & PHILLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO MONEY• OLD IMMIGRANTS AS OPPOSED TO NEW IMMIGRANTS OF EARLY 19TH C.

*CITIES SEEN AS MOST DEMOCRATIC OF PLACES*AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY $300

*BIRTHRATE FOR POOR INCREASES*ECONOMIC GAP WIDENS

*SOCIETY MORE STRATIFIED*INDUSTRIALIZATION BROUGHT POVERTY

*STILL BELIEVE IN IDEOLOGY OF DEMOCRATICEGALITARIANISM

CITY LIVING & URBAN PROBLEMS• HOUSES CHANGE: ROW BRICK HOUSES FOR M.C. & TENEMENTS FOR POOR• FURNITURE MFG. INCREASES, PRICE DECLINES & M.C. TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THIS• RURAL AREAS HOUSING DEPENDED ON SETTLEMENT DATE & SOCIAL CLASS: LOG

CABINS, FRAME HOUSES• EVERYDAY LIFE PRIMITIVE FOR MOST BUT IMPROVING DAILY• TRANSPORTATION & INDUSTRY IMPROVE HEATING, COOKING, DIET, WATER WORKS

SYSTEMS IN CITIES• SALT FOR PRESERVATION OF FOOD, ONLY RICH COULD AFFORD SUGAR FOR FRUIT• SANITATION, RUNNING H2O, HOGS & HORSES IN THE STREETS CREATED SEVER

CHALLENGES: DISEASE & HEALTH ISSUES – YELLOW FEVER, CHOLERA NEW ORLEANS 1832-33, ST. LOUIS 10% POPULATION DIES FROM CHOLERA 1849, LIFE EXPECTANCY IN PHILLY & NY 24 DURING THE 30’S & 40’S

• CITIES UNPREPARED FOR MASSIVE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS• CITIES DIVERSE AND THEREFORE DEMOCRATIC• F. L. OLMSTEAD & CENTRAL PARK, NY 1852 – REALLY FOR THE RICH, REMOVED • SENECA VILLAGE – COMMUNITY OF FREE BLACKS

AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS• WESTERN FARMING DEVELOPING• FARMING BECOMES MECHANIZED

WITH JOHN DEERE TRACTOR & MC-CORMICK REAPER

• TOWNS SETTLE ALONG EAST/WEST TRADE ROUTES

• 1851 11K REAPERS MANUFACTURED• DEERE ALLOWS FOR PLOWING &

TILLING OF PRARIE SOIL (DUSTBOWL IN THE ‘30’S) 1852 4k A YEAR

• COTTON STILL MOST VALUABLE EXPORT & WITH MORE COTTON DEMAND FOR COTTON GOODS INCREASE

2ND PHASE OF TRANSPORTATION REVOLUTION RAILROAD 1ST MODERN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

• SHIFT IN INTERNAL COMMERCE – NOW FRESHNESS VALUE IMPORTANT

• B&O 1830; 1840 3K MILES 1860 30,500• 4 COMPANIES CONTROL LINES FROM

EAST TO INTERIOR• SOUTHERN CITIES DEVELOP; ATLANTA

CHATTANOOGA BUT CITIES SLOW TO DEVELOP,

• RISE OF INVESTMENT BANKER TO FINANCE RR BUT WITH 1837 PANIC FUNDS DRY UP; PANIC DOESN’T HIT SOUTH AS HARD

• FINANCING PRIVATE INVESTORS, EURO-PEANS, GOVERNMENT BONDS

• MISSISSIPPI RIVER LOSES IMPORTANCE; SOUTH ISOLATED, SCATTERED POPULATION, LACK OF RR, SLAVERY