Industrialization

Industrialization Basic Vocabulary

What is Industrialization? The change from a farming economy to a machine economy. The “modernizing” of a place.

What is the Factory System? Making products with employees as quickly as possible.

What is Urbanization? The movement of people from farms (rural areas) to cities (urban areas).

What is Migration? The movement of people into a new place.

What are Reform Movements? Movements that try to fix or reform problems with society.

The Inventions of Industrialization

What was the Cotton Gin? A machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds. Unfortunately, the cotton gin led to the growth of slavery because cotton became more profitable.

What are Interchangeable Parts? When parts of a machine are replaceable. Now, things can be made and fixed more quickly and easily.

What was the Factory System? The use of machines, workers, and interchangeable parts to make things faster and easier.

What was the Erie Canal? Connects the Hudson River to the Great Lakes. Cut transportation costs by 95%.

What was the Steamboat? Boats that used engines for power. Now, boats can travel downstream and upstream. Steamboats made trade and travel faster, cheaper, and easier.

What was the impact of the railroad? Cars on rails that could carry a great amount of weight. Trains made trade and travel faster, cheaper, and easier.

What was Bessemer Steel Process? First fast and cheap way to make steel. This eventually led to bigger buildings (skyscrapers), bridges, and railroads.

What was the Mechanical Reaper? A machine that cuts and gathers crops. Mechanical reapers allowed farmers to grow more and use less workers.

What was the Telegraph? Machine that transmits electric signals over wires from location to location. First way to communicate long distance quickly.

Causes and Effects of Industrialization

How did the War of 1812 cause Industrialization? When the British interfered with American trade, the Americans had to create their own factories instead of relying on Europe.

How did Industrialization lead to Urbanization? People started to move close to their factory jobs. This movement led to bigger cities. Urbanization is an effect of Industrialization.

How did Industrialization lead to Pollution? Early factories polluted a lot. Cities in the 1800s were incredibly polluted. Living conditions were usually very bad.

How did Industrialization lead to Immigration? Workers from all over the world, but mostly Ireland, China, and Japan came to America looking for work/opportunity. America became a mix of many cultures.

How did Industrialization lead to Consumerism (Shopping)? Machines make things faster and cheaper. Steamboats, trains, and canals mean they are moved faster and cheaper. People can now buy more.

Northern, Southern, and Western Economies

How did Industrialization affect the North? Cities grew in the North much more than in the South. The Industrial Revolution and the revolutions in transportation and communication had the greatest impact on the North.

How did Industrialization affect the South? The Southern Economy was dependent on slavery. Cotton in particular made the South a lot of money. Smaller cities, people lived far a part on farms and plantations.

How did Industrialization affect the West? The west was getting populated at a very fast pace. Ranching and farming were key businesses in the west. The railroad connected the west to the rest of the country.

Industrialization and Free Enterprise

Who was Adam Smith? Wrote “The Wealth of Nations” in Promoted the idea that countries should let people make their own economic decisions. This idea is called Free Enterprise.

What is Laissez Faire Economics? Laissez Faire means countries stay away from businesses and people’s choices. Adam Smith believed this was best.