THE RAPID GROWTH OF INDUSTRY
1840-1860
Obj: To understand how technological
improvements increased industrial productivity by
looking at the factors that encouraged industrial
growth.
THE INDUSTRIAL NORTH
TECHNOLOGY: application of science to improving
conveniences of life - 1829
• NORTHEAST RESPONSIBLE FOR ½
OF U.S. PRODUCTION ON EVE OF
CIVIL WAR
• SHIFT IN ENERGY SOURCE LEADS TO
CHANGE IN FACTORY SYSTEM
• H20 TO COAL
• COAL: TRANSPORTED CHEAPLY,
HEAT FOR SMELTING &
METALWORKING, STEAMPOWER –
FACTORIES NOW CAN BE BUILT
ANYWHERE
• FACTORIES OPERATE 24/7
• EMBRACING TECHNOLOGICAL
CHANGE GREATEST TRIUMPH
• SANDUSKY WHEEL WORKS, OHIO
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE
• RESOURCEFULNESS REQUIRED DUE
TO DEMANDS OF SOCIETY IN FLUX
• MORE SOPHISTICATED & RELIABLE
TOOLS
• SHORTAGE OF LABOR SO NEED
LABOR SAVING DEVICES
• IMPROVE OLD MACHINES &
DESIGN NEW ONES
• USE OF INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS
– Whitney first for musket parts
• NEW DISCOVERIES OF NATURAL
RESOURCES AS MIGRATE WEST
LABOR: SKILLED & UNSKILLED
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PRODUCTION EXPANDS & DIVISION
OF LABOR MORE COMPLEX
SOCIAL DIVISIONS MORE APPARENT
SKILLED LABOR ALWAYS IN DEMAND
BUT CREATIVITY A MUST DUE TO
INCREASE IN TECHNOLOGY
UNSKILLED LABOR ALWAYS HAS
WORK BUT NEVER ENOUGH PAY
NEW WAY OF PRODUCTION:
EXPAND ON LOWELL & WALTHAM
WAGE WORK BECOMES END IN
ITSELF
CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURING
PROCESS BUT NOT YET MASS
PRODUCTION
IMMIGRATION
• WESTERN EUROPE PUSH – POTATO FAMINE IN IRELAND & REVOLUTION IN
GERMANY
• 1820 to 1860, 1,956,557 IRISH ARRIVED; 75% OF THESE AFTER THE GREAT
FAMINE 1840-1852
• BETWEEN 1840-1880 GERMANS LARGEST IMMIGRANT GROUP
• LANGUAGE HELD THEM TOGETHER & CREATED SELF SUFFICIENT GERMAN
COMMUNITIES (LEVI STRAUSS, STEINWAY)
• 5 MILLION 1815-1860; 4.2 MILL 1840-60; 3 MILL 1845-52
• LOWELL & WALTHAM SYSTEMS AT LEAST 50% IRISH IMMIGRANTS BY 1850
• CHEAP LABOR, WILLING TO WORK LONG HOURS, HARSH CONDITIONS &
YOUNG WOMEN & THEIR FAMILIES NOT WILLING (MIDDLE CLASS)
• POOR WHITE WOMEN & THEIR CHILDREN WILL FIND PAID WORK TO HELP
THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME
• LABOR DEMANDS INCREASE AS ESTABLISHED FOLKS MOVE WEST
• GERMANS MOVE BECAUSE MANY HAVE MONEY, IRISH STAY IN BOSTON,
NY & PHILLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO MONEY
• OLD IMMIGRANTS AS OPPOSED TO NEW IMMIGRANTS OF EARLY 19TH C.
*CITIES SEEN AS MOST DEMOCRATIC OF PLACES
*AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY $300
*BIRTHRATE FOR POOR INCREASES
*ECONOMIC GAP WIDENS
*SOCIETY MORE STRATIFIED
*INDUSTRIALIZATION BROUGHT POVERTY
*STILL BELIEVE IN IDEOLOGY OF DEMOCRATIC
EGALITARIANISM
CITY LIVING & URBAN PROBLEMS
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HOUSES CHANGE: ROW BRICK HOUSES FOR M.C. & TENEMENTS FOR POOR
FURNITURE MFG. INCREASES, PRICE DECLINES & M.C. TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THIS
RURAL AREAS HOUSING DEPENDED ON SETTLEMENT DATE & SOCIAL CLASS: LOG
CABINS, FRAME HOUSES
EVERYDAY LIFE PRIMITIVE FOR MOST BUT IMPROVING DAILY
TRANSPORTATION & INDUSTRY IMPROVE HEATING, COOKING, DIET, WATER WORKS
SYSTEMS IN CITIES
SALT FOR PRESERVATION OF FOOD, ONLY RICH COULD AFFORD SUGAR FOR FRUIT
SANITATION, RUNNING H2O, HOGS & HORSES IN THE STREETS CREATED SEVER
CHALLENGES: DISEASE & HEALTH ISSUES – YELLOW FEVER, CHOLERA NEW ORLEANS
1832-33, ST. LOUIS 10% POPULATION DIES FROM CHOLERA 1849, LIFE EXPECTANCY IN
PHILLY & NY 24 DURING THE 30’S & 40’S
CITIES UNPREPARED FOR MASSIVE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS
CITIES DIVERSE AND THEREFORE DEMOCRATIC
F. L. OLMSTEAD & CENTRAL PARK, NY 1852 – REALLY FOR THE RICH, REMOVED
SENECA VILLAGE – COMMUNITY OF FREE BLACKS
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS
• WESTERN FARMING DEVELOPING
• FARMING BECOMES MECHANIZED
WITH JOHN DEERE TRACTOR & MCCORMICK REAPER
• TOWNS SETTLE ALONG EAST/WEST
TRADE ROUTES
• 1851 11K REAPERS MANUFACTURED
• DEERE ALLOWS FOR PLOWING &
TILLING OF PRARIE SOIL (DUSTBOWL
IN THE ‘30’S) 1852 4k A YEAR
• COTTON STILL MOST VALUABLE
EXPORT & WITH MORE COTTON
DEMAND FOR COTTON GOODS
INCREASE
2ND PHASE OF TRANSPORTATION REVOLUTION
RAILROAD 1ST MODERN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
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SHIFT IN INTERNAL COMMERCE – NOW
FRESHNESS VALUE IMPORTANT
B&O 1830; 1840 3K MILES 1860 30,500
4 COMPANIES CONTROL LINES FROM
EAST TO INTERIOR
SOUTHERN CITIES DEVELOP; ATLANTA
CHATTANOOGA BUT CITIES SLOW TO
DEVELOP,
RISE OF INVESTMENT BANKER TO
FINANCE RR BUT WITH 1837 PANIC
FUNDS DRY UP; PANIC DOESN’T HIT
SOUTH AS HARD
FINANCING PRIVATE INVESTORS, EUROPEANS, GOVERNMENT BONDS
MISSISSIPPI RIVER LOSES IMPORTANCE;
SOUTH ISOLATED, SCATTERED
POPULATION, LACK OF RR, SLAVERY