ESSENTIAL QUESTION:ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Life Before The RevolutionLife Before The Revolution

•Due to many factors (heavily wooded, Due to many factors (heavily wooded, many rivers), transportation west was many rivers), transportation west was

stalled.stalled.

•It was generally held that ‘A squirrel It was generally held that ‘A squirrel could travel from Florida to Maine could travel from Florida to Maine

without touching the ground.’without touching the ground.’

•These barriers had to solved if the These barriers had to solved if the country were to make use of the new country were to make use of the new

Louisiana Territory. Louisiana Territory.

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.

Cumberland (“The National Road,” 1811) Connected

Baltimore to St. Louis

Cumberland (“The National Road,” 1811) Connected

Baltimore to St. Louis

Conestoga Covered Wagons were the transport of choice

for long trips

Conestoga Covered Wagons were the transport of choice

for long trips

Conestoga Trail, 1820sConestoga Trail, 1820s

Erie Canal, 1820sErie Canal, 1820s

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

Erie Canal SystemErie Canal System

Principal Canals in 1840Principal Canals in 1840

Clipper ShipsClipper Ships

Great for oceans, not for Mississippi

Great for oceans, not for Mississippi

Peter Cooper’s Steam Locomotive

Peter Cooper’s Steam Locomotive

Although already in England by 1803 Although already in England by 1803 ((TrevithickTrevithick), introduced in America in 1830., introduced in America in 1830.

TheRailroad

Revolution,1850s

TheRailroad

Revolution,1850s

Immigrant laborImmigrant laborbuilt the No. built the No. RRs.RRs.

Slave laborSlave laborbuilt the So. built the So. RRs. RRs.

The “Iron Horse” Wins! (1830)The “Iron Horse” Wins! (1830)

1830 1830 13 miles of track built by Baltimore & 13 miles of track built by Baltimore & Ohio RROhio RR

By 1850 By 1850 9000 mi. of RR track [1860 9000 mi. of RR track [1860 31,000 31,000 mi.]mi.]

Resourcefulness & Experimentation

Resourcefulness & Experimentation

Americans were willing to try Americans were willing to try

anything.anything.

They were first copiers, thenThey were first copiers, theninnovators.innovators.

1800 1800 41 patents were 41 patents were approved.approved.

1860 1860 4,357 patents were 4,357 patents were approved.approved.

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin, 1793

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin, 1793

Eli Whitney's InventionSeparated cotton from the seeds- accelerated farmingFurther encouraged the spread of slavery

Eli Whitney’s Gun FactoryEli Whitney’s Gun Factory

Brought Interchangeable Parts concept to Brought Interchangeable Parts concept to AmericaAmerica

OliverEvansOliverEvans

First prototype of the First prototype of the locomotivelocomotive

First automated First automated flour millflour mill

John Deere & the Steel Plow(1837)

John Deere & the Steel Plow(1837)

Cyrus McCormick& the Mechanical Reaper:

1831

Cyrus McCormick& the Mechanical Reaper:

1831

Samuel F. B. MorseSamuel F. B. Morse

1840 – Telegraph1840 – Telegraph

Cyrus Field & the Transatlantic Cable,

1858

Cyrus Field & the Transatlantic Cable,

1858

Elias Howe & Isaac SingerElias Howe & Isaac Singer

1840s1840sSewing MachineSewing Machine

Robert Fulton & the Steamboat

Robert Fulton & the Steamboat

1807: The 1807: The ClermontClermont

z They all regarded material They all regarded material advance as the natural fruit of advance as the natural fruit of American republicanism & proof American republicanism & proof of the country’s virtue and of the country’s virtue and promise.promise.

The “American Dream”The “American Dream”

A German visitor in the 1840s, A German visitor in the 1840s, Friedrich List, observed:Friedrich List, observed:

Anything new is quickly introduced Anything new is quickly introduced here, including all of the latest here, including all of the latest inventions. There is no clinging to inventions. There is no clinging to old ways. The moment an old ways. The moment an American hears the word American hears the word “invention,” he pricks up his ears.“invention,” he pricks up his ears.

Samuel Slater(“Father of the Factory

System”)

Samuel Slater(“Father of the Factory

System”)

The Lowell/Waltham System:

First Dual-Purpose Textile Plant

The Lowell/Waltham System:

First Dual-Purpose Textile Plant

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

Lowell in 1850Lowell in 1850

Lowell MillLowell Mill

Early Textile LoomEarly Textile Loom

New EnglandTextile

Centers:

1830s

New EnglandTextile

Centers:

1830s

New England Dominance in Textiles

New England Dominance in Textiles

Early US Factory SystemEarly US Factory System• Used water to power the millsUsed water to power the mills• Samuel Slater brought “power Samuel Slater brought “power

looms” to Northern states from looms” to Northern states from EnglandEngland– Could spin cotton AND weave into clothCould spin cotton AND weave into cloth

• Employed entire families for low Employed entire families for low wageswages– Families were motivated b/c growing Families were motivated b/c growing

conditions in the north were poorconditions in the north were poor

The “Lowell Mills”The “Lowell Mills”• Lowell copied Slater’s “mill town” Lowell copied Slater’s “mill town”

systemsystem• Young farm women worked the mills Young farm women worked the mills

and lived boarding housesand lived boarding houses– Followed strict rules: attend church, learn Followed strict rules: attend church, learn

to read, become ‘the marrying type’to read, become ‘the marrying type’– Working conditions: deafening and Working conditions: deafening and

dangerousdangerous– Pay: high early on; plummeted w/more Pay: high early on; plummeted w/more

competition – DANGERS INCREASEDcompetition – DANGERS INCREASED

Lowell GirlsLowell Girls

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

Lowell Mills Time Table

Lowell Mills Time Table

Early “Union” Newslett

er

Early “Union” Newslett

er

The Factory Girl’s GarlandThe Factory Girl’s Garland

February 20, 1845 issue.February 20, 1845 issue.

I’m a Factory Girl Filled with Wishes

I’m a Factory Girl Filled with WishesI'm a factory girlI'm a factory girl

Everyday filled with fearEveryday filled with fearFrom breathing in the poison airFrom breathing in the poison airWishing for windows!Wishing for windows!I'm a factory girlI'm a factory girlTired from the 13 hours of wok each dayTired from the 13 hours of wok each dayAnd we have such low payAnd we have such low payWishing for shorten work times!Wishing for shorten work times!I'm a factory girlI'm a factory girlNever having enough time to eatNever having enough time to eatNor to rest my feetNor to rest my feetWishing for more free time!Wishing for more free time!I'm a factory girlI'm a factory girlSick of all this harsh conditionsSick of all this harsh conditionsMaking me want to sign the petition!Making me want to sign the petition!So do what I ask for because I am a factory So do what I ask for because I am a factory girlgirlAnd I'm hereby speaking for all the rest!And I'm hereby speaking for all the rest!

Irish Immigrant Girls at LowellIrish Immigrant Girls at Lowell

Steam Power Innovates the Steam Power Innovates the millsmills• After 1850’s steam engines run After 1850’s steam engines run

millsmills– Could be moved away from waterCould be moved away from water– Wood & coal-driven vs. water-Wood & coal-driven vs. water-

drivendriven• HEALTH HAZARDS?HEALTH HAZARDS?

Creating a Business-Friendly Climate

Creating a Business-Friendly ClimateSupreme 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. Charles Rivers Bridge v. WarrenWarren Bridge Bridge (1835) (1835)General Incorporation Law General Incorporation Law passedpassed in New York, 1848. in New York, 1848.

Laissez faire Laissez faire BUT, govt. did muchBUT, govt. did much to assist capitalism! to assist capitalism!

Distribution of WealthDistribution of Wealthv During the American During the American

Revolution,Revolution,45% of all wealth in the top 45% of all wealth in the top 10% of10% ofthe population.the population.

v 1845 Boston 1845 Boston top 4% owned top 4% owned overover 65% of the wealth. 65% of the wealth.v 1860 Philadelphia 1860 Philadelphia top 1% top 1% ownedowned over 50% of the wealth. over 50% of the wealth.v The gap between rich and poor The gap between rich and poor waswas widening! widening!

Regional SpecializationRegional Specialization

EAST EAST IndustrialIndustrial

SOUTH SOUTH Cotton & SlaveryCotton & Slavery

WEST WEST The Nation’s The Nation’s “Breadbasket”“Breadbasket”

American Population Centers in 1820

American Population Centers in 1820

American Population Centers in 1860

American Population Centers in 1860

ECONOMIC?ECONOMIC?

SOCIAL?SOCIAL?

POLITICAL?POLITICAL?

FUTUREPROBLEMS?FUTURE

PROBLEMS?