Forging the National Economy (1790-1860)
Chapter 14 The Westward Movement Ralph Waldo Emersons essay Self Reliance
Called for the need for each individual to avoid conformity and follow his or her own instincts and ideas The Frontier Created Self-Reliance
Grim life for most frontier families Disease, depression, death Women were especially affected by the hardships and isolation of pioneer life madness Frontier Americans were often ill informed (poor communication of news), superstitious, and fiercely individualistic Also committed sense of community (barn-raising socials) Shaping the Western Landscape
Westward movement molded environment Tobacco exhausted the land and many farmers moved further west Ecological imperialismexploitation of natural resources beavers, sea otters, and bison But there was also a sense of nationalistic pride in the unspoiled beauty of the American wilderness Protecting Natural Lands
George Catlin was the 1st person to advocate preservation of the American environment Proposed the idea of a national park Yellowstone was established in 1872 Back East Urban areas Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans, Chicago
Harsh conditions Slums inadequate police forces poor sanitation disease Reasons for Foreign Immigration
The March of the Millions Europe was quickly becoming over populated America was perceived to be the Land of Opportunity (3 meat meals a day) America was a haven from religious persecution, and oppressive governments The introduction of the transoceanic steamship reduced traveling to 12 daysnot weeks (death rate not as high) Irish Immigration Between 1830- 1860, 2 million Irish moved to America
Ireland was enduring a potato famine in the mid-1840s More than 2 million Irish died from starvation To many families, sending a loved one to America was a chance for the familys survival American Life for the Irish
Irish immigrants were generally too poor to travel beyond the coast once they got to the USA Irish populations tended to concentrate in urban centers like Boston and NYC (slum areas) The Irish faced ethnic discrimination because of their Catholic faith and for the reputationas being hot-headed and enjoying alcohol Men were often forced to work menial jobs digging canals or constructing the railroads Women were often employed as domestic servants Ethnic Discrimination
The USA was not welcoming to most Irish NINANo Irish Need Apply often posted in business windows Irish imposed discrimination upon free African Americans whowere viewed as competition for the low paying jobs (ethnic riots) Strength in Numbers The Irish immigrants bonded together in a hostile world Ancient Order of Hibernians was established as a benevolent organization to aid the Irish poor The Irish aspired to be part of the American Dreamowning their own land (land was the ultimate symbol of success) Childrens education was often cut short so they could help provide income for the family to get one step closer to that dream Letter to the London Times from an Irish Immigrant in America, 1850
I am exceedingly well pleased at coming to this land of plenty. On arrival I purchased 120 acres of land at $5 an acre. You must bear in mind that I have purchased the land out, and it is to me and mine an "estate for ever", without a landlord, an agent or tax-gatherer to trouble me. I would advise all my friends to quit Ireland the country most dear to me; as long as they remain in it they will be in bondage and misery. What you labour for is sweetened by contentment and happiness; there is no failure in the potato crop, and you can grow every crop you wish, without manuring the land during life. You need not mind feeding pigs, but let them into the woods and they will feed themselves, until you want to make bacon of them. I shudder when I think that starvation prevails to such an extent in poor Ireland. After supplying the entire population of America, there would still be as much corn and provisions left us would supply the world, for there is no limit to cultivation or end to land. Here the meanest labourer has beef and mutton, with bread, bacon, tea, coffee, sugar and even pies, the whole year round every day here is as good as Christmas day in Ireland. Molly Maguires A secret organization consisting of many coal workers in Pennsylvania The Irish quickly learned how to unite to improve their horrendous working conditions It is believed that the Irish Miners Union organized strikes in Pennsylvania coal mines in the 1860s and 1870s Politicking to get the Irish Vote
Over time, the Irish are seen as an important voting population In order to get their vote, politicians cater to their Irish audience by slandering England The Irish vote especially became important to the local and state governments of New York The Irish had considerable influence over NYC politics (Tammany Hall) In return for their patronage, the Irish dominated the police force The German Immigrants 1 million Germans immigrated to the USA between Many left their homes in Europe due to crop failures In addition, in 1848, the Germans attempted a democratic revolution and failed.Political refugees migrated to America to exercise political freedom German Advantages The Germans arrived in the USA with more money so many bought land in the west (Wisconsin) or the south (Texas) Germans were more highly skilled workers, more education, some professionals Many Germans were active in politics (public education & abolition) Politicians did not cater to the Germans because their votes were not as critical as the Irish because the Germans were more dispersed German Acceptance into American Society
Germans tended to isolate themselves in ethnic communities and were perceived to be aloof In addition, their enjoyment of beer created resentment from other Americans Despite this, many German customs and contributions became part of the American culture Conestoga wagon, rifle, kindergarten, Christmas Tree, Sleighing Flare-ups of Antiforeignism
nativists displayed prejudice towardsnewcomers in jobs, politics,&religion Catholic schools were created to protect Irish children from the harassment of a Protestant society The cultural aspects of the Irish and Germans that involved alcohol conflicted with the mission of the temperance movement Acts of violence A Catholic Convent in Boston was burned in 1834 In Philadelphia 2 churches were burned and 13 people were killed Nativism Became Political
Order of Star-Spangled Banneralso known as the Know-Nothing party or the American Party Members would not reveal information This political group fought for restriction on immigration, naturalization & deportation of immigrant poor Their fictional literature described the sins of the Catholics 1856 Know-Nothing Political Platform:Americans must rule America; and to this end, native-borncitizens should be selected for all state, federal, or municipal offices of government employment, in preference to naturalized citizens Advantages of Immigration
Economic growth of the country attracted immigrants, their cheap labor in turn created more prosperity and jobs Immigration made America a pluralistic society (diversity & differing perspectives) These perspectives and skills helped American to keep pace with the rest of the world in terms of agriculture and industry The March of Mechanization
The industrial revolution was slow to gain momentum in the USA.WHY?? land was cheap (most would rather own land than work for someone else) Until the mass immigration of the 1830s, there was not a significant labor force in the USA Those with money were not willing to invest in a risky industry The USA did not have the technology to explore natural resources needed for industry In the late 1700s America simply could not compete with the other industrial nations which were already producing cheap, high quality goods British monopoly of the Textile Industry
The industrial revolution was already in full production in England (they had all of the components needed for successful industrialization) The design and operation of British textile factories were a closely guarded secret (forbade travel of crafts men & export of machine) Interchangeable Parts Helped to Industrialize America
Eli Whitney demonstrated the concept of interchangeable parts and mass production to the US military He dismantled several muskets, placed the pieces in a box, mixed it up and re-assembled the guns with the various parts This concept revolutionized production by demonstrating quantity over quality The Impact of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney build a cotton gin to separate the cotton seeds from the fiber This time saving device increased efficiency but also led to an increased demand in slave labor to plant and harvest the crop 1790-1810 cotton production increased from 3,000 bales/year to 178,000 bales/year
slaves in South 700,000 to 1,200,000 The South became a new single crop based economy The Cotton Kingdom
The south flourished & expanded cotton kingdom toward west The Industrial North Southern cotton supplied northern textile factories (indirectly supported slave labor) Northern states had the cheap labor force and initial water power needed to operate factories The North already had established ports and canals The North was able to produce finished goods and transport them to the consumers The Sewing Machine The abundance of textiles being produced in the north (with the southern cotton) led tonew inventions Elias Howe and Isaac Singer both designed a sewing machine which transformed the role of women Ready-made clothing was produced in northern factories The seamstress moved from the home and into the factory Patents and Business Organizations
By the 1860s, more than 28,000 patents had been applied for, American ingenuity at work Those who invested money in industry were also legally protectedif there was a law suit or if the factory went bankrupt, the investor was only out his own shares of stocklimited liability Laws of free incorporation (1848)-no need to apply for charter from legislature to start a corporation Samuel Morses Telegraph 1844
Improved communication to all regions of the nation Revolutionized the gathering of news, influence of government policies, and finance Talking wires What hath God wrought? Agricultural Revolution
The Trans-Allegheny region (Ohio-Indiana-Illinois) became nations breadbasket:grain, corn, hogs Known as porkopolis of the west Improvements in farming technology transitioned America from subsistence farming to large scale crop production The farmers need to produce increased farmers debt It also increased the market for factory-made goods Cyrus McCormick Developed the mechanical mower-reaper This machine could do the work of 5 men The Western Cotton Gin John Deere 1837 presented the steel plow Broke through the thick frontier soils Could be pulled by horses (faster than oxen) Factory Conditions & Wage Slaves
The factory system led to impersonal relations Most of the benefits went to the factory owner Long hours, poor wages, few breaks Unsanitary environments, poor ventilation, hazardous conditions Workers were prohibited from unionizing Frequent exploitation of child labor; of force was based on child labor Voting and the Working Man
The era of mass democracy led to an increased number of working men exercising their right to vote to improve conditions for working Americans (Democratic supporters) Workers were pushing for a 10 hour work day, owners naturally objected In 1840, President Van Buren established a 10 hour work day for federal employees on public works projects.Gradually other states began to reduce the number of working hours Labor Unions Those who tried to unionize/strike for better wages and conditions often found themselves unemployed and their jobs given to others (scabs, rats--immigrants) After the Panic of 1837, unemployment increased and union membership declined Of those still working, many were fearful of joining a union because they needed their job Commonwealth v. Hunt 1842 The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that labor unions were not illegal conspiracies Workers could strike peacefully It signaled the potential power of the growing working class but equal relations between laborer and owner was a long way off Women and the Work Force
The workforce provided hope that a single women could achieve economic independence A paycheck symbolized the freedom to buy manufactured goods In 1840, 10% of the workforce was mostly unmarried women Other employment opportunities for women were limited to nursing, domestic service, teaching The Lowell Girls New England farm girls went to work in the Lowell Mill (Textile Factory) in the Lowell Town Closely supervised boarding houses Were not allowed to unionize, but did organize a strike for better wages and working conditions The Cult of Domesticity
Glorified womans role as a wife and mother scientific research re-affirming women were to fragile mentally and physically to handle the stress of the industrial world A womans focus should be to create a safe refuge for her husband so he could escape the stress of providing for the family A woman should take pride in instilling Christian values within her family domain The Child Centered Family
By the 1800s the notion of arranged marriages was being replaced with genuine relationships Parents showed more affection and attention to their children (a childs will should be shaped not broken) The size of families became smaller by choice (average size was 6) The Separation of Spheres
Clearly defined roles for middle and upper class men and women Women would take care of the safe, home environment Men would financially provide for their families Immigrants and poor Americans needed every family member to contribute by working, so these spheres were not as defined for the lower classes Industrialization and Transportation
Improvements in transportation was needed for more efficient transportation of raw materials and finished goods Lancaster turnpike-hard road from Philadelphia to Lancaster brought economic expansion to west Cumberland Road connected Maryland to Illinois ( )funded by state & federal funds Robert Fulton invents steam engine (Steam boats)-1807
Ships could now travel against the water current and travel despite weather conditions These networks also contributed to the development of the Southern and Western economies The Iron Horse 1st railroad in US (1828)
By ,000 mi. railroad tracks in USA, 3/4 of them in the north At first there was opposition to the development of railroadscanal investors were afraid to loose money Trains were badly constructed (brakes bad), and often times travelers had to change trains multiple times Accidents, derailments, embers caught buildings on fire Improved Communication
Trans-Atlantic Cable (Cyrus West Field 1858) 2,000 miles across the Atlantic at a depth often of more than two miles Clipper ships (not much cargo space but could travel distances quickly) Carried many seeking gold to CA Eventually crushed by Britishs iron tramp steamers The Pony Express until 1860 mail delivery to remote areas between Missouri to California Shifting Strengths The transportation revolution allowed for a variety of ways for western goods to reach eastern markets Goods no longer needed to travel through southern ports or by the Mississippi River An Interconnected Economy
By the civil war, a continental economy had developed in which each region relied upon the other regions for economic prosperity Northindustry, immigrants, a market for goods in the south and west Souththe cotton kingdom, slave labor, provided cotton to New England and British textile mills Westgrain and livestock fed northern workers and people in Europe The Market Revolution Transition of subsistence farming and small workshops to production on a national scale Gone were the days of the American family providing for all of its needs (self-reliance gone?) Factory made goods were available in large quantities at reasonable prices With the age of industry, the gap between the very rich and the very poor widened Wealth and Poverty Greatest disparity of wealth was seen in urban areas (millionaires and extreme poor) Unskilled workers frequently drifted from town to town for jobs.At times 1/2 of industrial population were drifters Rags to riches stories were rare; social mobility existed but not in proportion to the legends of the American dream Overall there was an increase in the standard of living as wages gradually increased (helped diffuse potential class conflict)