America’s Economic Revolution Chapter 10
Factors that allow Industrial Growth *Population *Transportation/communication *Technology *Business organization
US Population
Factors for Population Growth *Public Health Efforts *High Birth Rates *Immigration
Growth of Cities * 1860 – 26% of North in cities *Growth along Miss. R. & tribs *Growth along Great Lakes *Poor immigrants stay in cities
Irish German English Northern European Other
Different groups settle in different parts of the US Based on economic circumstances
NATIVISM *Immigrants inferior *Breed urban slums *Corrupt politics – sell votes *Stealing jobs from real Americans *Catholic –Pope will take over
Supreme Order of the Star-Spangled Banner American Party
The Know-Nothings
CANALS
ERIE CANAL *Started 1817 finished 1825 *$7 million *Easier transportation of goods ton flour 3 weeks $ ton flour 8 days $6 *13,000 boats 1 st year
DeWitt Clinton
Effect on NYC *Population from: 123,000 in 1820 to 814,000 in 1860 * % of US Exports * %
RAILROADS
Growth miles miles miles miles 2/3 of track in North
Major RR lines New York Central New York And Erie Pennsylvania Baltimore & Ohio
1844 Samuel Morse By ,000 miles Connects East to West
Changes in Newspapers *Steam Cylinder Rotary Press *Telegraph *1846 Associated Press *Raymond-Times *Greely-Tribune *Bennett-Herald
Value of Manufactured Goods 1840 $483,000, $1,000,000, $2,000,000,000 74,000 of 140,000 manufacturers are in Northeast
Patents
1839 Charles Goodyear Vulcanized Rubber
Sewing Machine 1846 Elias Howe Improved by Isaac Singer
Clipper Ship 300 miles per day 1840’s & 50’s peak
LABOR
Opening of new farmland in Midwest & new farm equipment allows surplus of food to be grown Better transportation allows it to get to cities
2 ways to recruit workers 1.Mid-Atlantic – bring whole families from farms 2.Young women- mostly from farms 17-20
Lowell Girls
Immigrants Many need money -will work for less -will accept poor working conditions
Factory Workers Average Hours per day Skilled Male $4-10 Unskilled Male $1-6 Women & kids less
Skilled artisans hurt by mass production Form trade unions Unions don’t do well
Some help for workers: Some states pass max workday laws at 10 hours Some pass child labor laws- limit at 10 unless parents agree to more Massachusetts Supreme Court says unions legal
Poor & Rich
In % of families own 50% of the wealth
Character of wealth changes With merchants and industrialist wealth goes from property to MONEY
Culture of wealth begins to change *live in opulent neighborhoods *belong to clubs *show off wealth
Central Park
Destitute-Bottom of Society *Widows & orphans *unemployed immigrants *Mentally ill *Physically unable to work *Forced to menial labor: Irish Free Blacks
Possibility for change: *Social mobility *Geographic mobility
Move to cities changes family structure *Father loses control-no longer can use land distribution
*Home no longer center of all activity Separation of private (home) and public (work) lives
Women and the Cult of Domesticity Change for women comes with the middle class
Husband is the income producer Work is seen as only for lower class women Middle class wives stay home
Women become guardian of domestic virtue *Nurture the children *Provide proper living space *companion & helper
Women develop unique culture Begin to form clubs and associations Women’s literature and magazines
AGRICULTURE
New England Farmers not able to compete with Mid-West in grains Some will leave farms for cities
Some farmer change crops: *grow fruit and vegetables *dairy farms *hay
With growth of factories & cities the demand for farm goods increases Relationship develops between Northeast and Midwest
This economic connection further links the two sections Who is left out? The South
Necessity for growth of cities is increased agricultural production
More land Better seeds/crops Better animals Better tools
John Deere – Steel Plow
Thresher Man 7 bushels per day Thresher 25 bushels per hour
1 man with scythe 1 acre per day
Cyrus McCormick – Reaper 1 man w/reaper - 8 acres per day
Increased production per person allows % of Americans on farms to decline yet still feed growing urban population