FORGING THE NATIONAL ECONOMY 1790 1860 I Westward

FORGING THE NATIONAL ECONOMY 1790 -1860

I. Westward Movement Americans constantly pushed west, cheap land opportunity First part of 19 th century new immigrants joined movement (Irish, Germans) New machinery allowed crops to be cultivated quicker, goods produced faster, expectations for workers changed New methods of transportation allowed goods, people and products to move quicker Origins of market oriented economy

I. Westward Movement Ø Ø Ø Ø Jackson symbolized the rise of trans-Appalachia Raw frontier seen as typically American 1850 half of all Americans under 30 Seen as restless energetic, always on the move Demographic center of America had move steadily westward Reality of pioneer life was grim (especially for women) Rugged individualism became part of national character- Was this true?

II. Shaping the Western Landscape People molded physical environment Left behind fields destroyed by tobacco cultivation Planted “Kentucky Bluegrass” from charred canfields, 1820 -1840 trappers, mountain men had decimated beaver across the West Buffalo, sea otters were hunted into near extension for their fur Ecological Imperialism- exploitation of Americas natural bounty

II. Shaping the Western Landscape Many Americans revered nature American wilderness seen as unique to many Europeans Wild unspoiled land one of the nations defining attributed- move west you can always start over Inspired literature, painting and by the end of the 1800’s a conservation movement

III. The March of the Millions Population doubling every 25 years By 1860 there were 33 states, 4 th most populous country in the world Urban growth- by 1860 there were 43 cities with more than 20, 000 (1790 only 3) Urbanization brought problems (inadequate public services, poor housing) 1823 Boston developed first sewer system, 1842 NYC first piped in water supply

III. The March of the Millions By 1840’s population growth comes from immigration Most Irish and German What caused them to come to America? Europe had surplus of population, running out of room America seen as land of opportunity Freedom of European class system Abundant, cheap land No compulsory military service

IV. The Emerald Isle Moves West Mid 1840’s potato crop failure pushes many out of Ireland 1830 -1860 2 million Irish come to the United States Newcomers too poor to buy land, stayed in cities on eastern seaboard (NYC largest Irish city in the world) Irish had to take worst jobs, poorest housing- viewed as a social menace Competed with African Americans for jobs (Irish did not support abolition) Formed Irish only clubs (Ancient Order of Hibernians, Molly

IV. The Emerald Isle Moves West Irish acquired property and improved lives in America Politicians wanted to cultivate Irish vote Many entered politics and gained control of political machines (NYC Tammany Hall) Dominated police departments

V. The German Forty-Eighters 1830 -1860 over 1. 5 million Germans immigrated to US Uprooted farmers, political refugees German immigrants better off than Irish, had more money Moved to Middle West, established farms Less political power, widely scattered population

V. The German Forty-Eighters Germans more educated than Irish, supported public schools Were not supporters of slavery Fled militarism of Europe, became isolationists Language, culture viewed as suspicious by many Settled in colonies, separate from surrounding community Brought Old World drinking habits (brought beer to America)

VI. Flare-ups of Antiforeignism Immigration inflamed anti-foreign sentiment Feared they would take jobs, worried about “popish” newcomers 1840’s Immigrants establish separate Catholic school system, protect children from Protestant indoctrination By 1850 Catholics largest single religious group in America

VI. Flare-ups of Antiforeignism “Nativists” rally for political action, form Know-Nothing Party 1849 Wanted restrictions on immigration, easier ways to deport “aliens” Promoted literature to expose foreigners (most of it untrue) Mass violence 1834, Catholic convent burned 1844 Philadelphia nativists, Irish Catholics riot Effects of immigration a. b. made America more pluralistic society Growth of economy really did not jeopardize wealth of others

VII. Creeping Mechanization 1750 Industrial Revolution begins in England with mass production of textiles End of muscle, animal power beginning of machine power Slow to catch on in US cheap land, labor scarce Capital in short supply, raw materials in America were untapped 1840’s rise of immigration caused labor pool to grow

VIII. Whitney Ends Fiber Famine Samuel Slater from England steals plans for first textile machines 1791 first efficient machine for spinning cotton 1793 Eli Whitney invents first cotton gin (separates cotton fiber from seeds, 50 X more effective than human labor) Changed history of America made cotton growing profitable enterprise

VIII. Whitney Ends Fiber Famine Slavery had been dying out Invention of cotton gin caused more acres to be cleared -Cotton Kingdom moved westward (into AL, MS) Cotton sent to mills in New England Factories were established in Northeast Little manufacturing in South, money tied up in land slaves New England ideal for industrialization a) soil too poor farming, b) dense population, markets available c) shipping allowed for export of finished products d) large poor immigrant population for labor e) rapid rivers good for water powered mills

IX. Marvels in Manufacturing Consequences of embargo 1807 and War of 1812 was capital kept in America Used to invest in American manufacturing After war British flood America with cheap goods, Tariff of 1816 attempts to protect American manufacturing Eli Whitney develops idea of mass produced interchangeable parts for muskets, by 1850 became the basis of mass production Most factories located in the northeast (industrial plant of America)

IX. Marvels in Manufacturing 1846 Isaac Singer, Elias Howe invent sewing machine (mass production of clothes) Patents increased 306 in 1800, 28, 000 1860 Legal status of business organizations changed Limited liability principle allowed investors to invest in companies Companies could concentrate capital Investment capital companies used in textiles, railroads, insurance and banking 1844 Invention of telegraph (Samuel Morse) brought world closer together (revolutionized exchange of information)

X. Workers and Wage Slaves Industrial Revolution end of age of close personal relationships with boss Spindle Cities grew up around factories to house workers Hours long, wages low, poor working conditions Could not form labor unions to improve life at work (criminal conspiracy) Child labor a huge problem

X. Workers and Wage Slaves Wages did rise (1820’s-1830’s), growth of middle class Americans More workers could vote Supported Democratic Party of Jackson Fight against all forms of privilege (Bank of US), reflected anxiety about new capitalist economy 1840 Van Buren reduces work day for federal workers, states eventually followed Workers gained right to strike but usually lost They could easily be replaced by workers “fresh off the boat” from Europe Commonwealth vs. Hunt (1842), Mass; unions were not conspiracies

XI. Women and the Economy Women left farms, went to work in factories Gave them greater economic independence Lowell Mills (Mass. ) seen as a model workplace for “factory girls” Factory provided income, protected morality Overall employment opportunities for women were scarce Influence of Harriet Beecher Stowe, many women became teachers (feminized profession) Vast majority of working women single

XI. Women and the Economy Women married, left jobs Work as wives and mothers called “cult of domesticity”, glorified functions as a homemaker A. Home was women’s sphere B. Love determined choice of spouse C. Nuclear family became closer D. Home was a refuge from the industrial world E. Number of children per family dropped Domestic feminism in the home, growing power and influence of women New ideas of raising children, family more child centered, affectionate Children raised by morals of “modern family” were good citizens

XII. Western Farmers Reap a Revolution in the Fields Farms were changing the West Pioneer families planted corn, lots of it Staple market item, had many uses Western goods floated down Mississippi River Fed the south Western Farmers wanted to cultivate more acres but soil hard to break up 1837 John Deere introduces steel plow 1830’s Cyrus Mc. Cormick introduces mechanical reaper, could do the work of 5 men Farmers could plant more land, rise of large scale cash crop agriculture for region Farmers became businesspeople, looked east for a new market for their crops

XIII. Highways and Steamboats Need for cheap and efficient carriers of products 1790’s Lancaster Turnpike first highway (charged toll and made a huge profit) Turnpike building spurred western development, allowed for easy access to the West Use of federal funds to build roads opposed by state’s righter's and Eastern states (fear of loss of population) 1811 Federal government builds Cumberland Road (finished 1852)

XIII. Highways and Steamboats Ø Ø 1807 Robert Fulton launches steamboat craze Steamboats could travel upstream, against the current Navigable rivers two way arteries of transportation 1820 - sixty steamboats on Mississippi River 1860 - over 1, 000 Steamboats opened up West and South Goods could be shipped out cheaply, quickly Bring in manufactured goods New population centers grew up along

XIV. “Clinton’s Big Ditch” in New York Canal cutting craze 1817 -1825 New York financed building of Erie Canal, linked Great Lakes and Hudson River Cost of shipping and time of transportation dropped Value of land along canal went up, new cities (Rochester, Syracuse) Interior cities population exploded (Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland) Settlers migrated from northeast to Midwest

XVI. Iron Horse Railroad not limited by geography 1828 first RR in US 1860 30, 000 miles of track, most of it in north Faced opposition from canal backers, considered as public menace Problems overcome by technology- differences in gauge (as time went by became more standardized), improvements in brakes, Pullman sleeping car introduced (1859)

XVII. Cables, Clippers and Pony Riders 1858 - first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable connected Europe and US 1840’S-1850’s- “Golden Age of American Shipping” Clipper Ships rapidly move freight across Pacific, eventually replaced by steam powered ships 1860 - Pony Express established, folded after 18 months (telegraph better) Dying technology of wind and muscle power, replaced by machines

XIV. The Transport Web Binds the Union Before 1830 West linked to South by Mississippi River Building of RR linked North to West, robbed Mississippi River of it’s traffic NYC became major port of nation Emergence of continental economy, each region specialized in economic activity

IXX. The Market Revolution transformed country from small, scattered subsistence farmers and workshops into national network of industry and commerce Questions over who should regulate economy? Who owns technology? A. Supreme Court decisions sided with liberal state laws that encouraged greater competition in the marketplace “rights of the community” Self sufficient households transformed A. Wage earners went to work, made money and purchased manufactured goods B. Home became a place of refuge from work, separate sphere for women Gap between have and have-nots grew, greatest in cities Rising wages and middle class helped diffuse potential conflict between classes