MR. GAUL’S ANSWER KEY
Mr. Gaul
Ch. 8: The Growth of a National Economy
Guided Reading Questions
Section 1 pg. 272-279:
1. Discuss at least three new American technologies and inventions that came about
during the industrial revolution.
-Interchangeable parts: began w/ guns and spread to other industries
-Cotton Gin: allowed 1 worker to clean 100 lbs. of cotton/day instead of just 1 pound
* Both developed by Eli Whitney
-Steamships: allowed for mass transportation of goods by river
2. Describe the effects of manufacturing and investment capital on the U.S. economy.
-Manufacturing reorganized how many Americans earned their living
-Investment capital encouraged innovation in the manufacturing process
-It also helped the economy by providing $$ to improve & expand factories
3. What are the advantages of a centralized production process?
-All steps in the manufacturing process take place in one location
-Saves time and money
-More efficient production
4. How did banks help spur (encourage) economic growth?
-By providing investment capital to entrepreneurs
5. How did the Industrial Revolution begin in the United States? What was its impact?
-It began in 1793 when Samuel Slater opened the first water powered mill in Pawtucket,
Rhode Island
-It drastically changed how goods were made in America and the amount of production
-Led to improvements in communication and transportation
-Brought the U.S. to a new level of economic prosperity
6. How did improvements in transportation and communication change American
society?
-Railroads, steamships, and canals changed how goods were transported & sold
-People were able to travel more freely throughout the country
-More post offices + higher literacy = more knowledge of other areas of the country
7. How did the U.S. economy expand during the early 1800’s?
-Rise of manufacturing
-Growth of banks
-More production, better communication, better transportation = more profits!
Section 2 pg. 280-284:
1. In what ways did the economy of the North change from 1800-1850? (at least 2)
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New developments in farming technologies and new specialized businesses to
handle the processing, transportation, and selling of farm products in the Old
Northwest
Growth of factories and industry in the Northeast
2. What were the positive and negative effects of industrialization and urban growth in
the North?
+ growth of cities, availability of jobs, expanding economy
- poor living conditions (see notes about tenement life)
- the population of cities grew faster than services did (police, fire, sewage, etc.)
3. Why were strikes the only weapon workers had with which to fight their poor working
conditions?
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They could not go to the courts or government because they sided with the owners
If they withheld their labor there would be no one to work the machines, no
products being made, and consequently no profits being made by the owner
4. What kids of problems did labor unions want companies to address?
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wages
working conditions
working hours
5. How did farming develop in the old Northwest?
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New inventions like the steel plow and mechanical reaper made farming more
productive and less labor intensive
Climate/soil ideal for raising livestock and planting grain crops: wheat and corn
Used the crops and livestock in multiple ways, not wasting anything!
6. What new industries arose in the Northeast?
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Eli Whitney’s gun factory, ship building, furniture, glass, clocks, textiles
7. What caused the growth of cities, and what problems arose as they grew?
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Limited opportunities for work in farming
Factories located in the cities
People migrated to urban areas in search of work
Cities grew too fast! Limited services, tenement life, etc.
8. What kids of labor disputes arose in factories?
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Workers saw their owners getting rich and wanted a piece of the pie! They
wanted to be compensated for their part in the process
Low wages, unsafe conditions, long hours
Section 3 pg. 285-289:
1. Why did the South remain largely rural? Why was its economy largely agricultural?
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Planting and selling raw cotton was hugely profitable
Geography of the South & its climate were ideal for agriculture
2. Why did farmers in the cotton belt resent their relationship to the North?
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They had to rely on northern banking institutions for loans as they expanded their
landholdings and improved the technology on their farms/plantations
They also had to rely on the textile mills of the North as the markets for their raw
cotton, which led to the factory owners making more money from their cotton
then the planters did
3. What change did Congress make to the slave trade in 1808?
NO MORE SLAVE TRADE!!! BANNED FURTHER IMPORTATION TO THE U.S.
4. Why did the number of slaves continue to rise after this date?

Children born to slaves became slaves themselves.
5. How did the lives of slaves differ on small and large farms?
*Small: Worked side by side with their owners in the field, maybe even ate with them.
While not treated great, treated better than slaves on large plantations
*Large: lived in larger communities of 20 or more slaves. Worked in crews, treated the
way that you have already learned about.
6. What were the results of slave revolts?
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Tightened restrictions on slaves
Passed laws making it illegal to teach slaves to read and write
Passed laws making it illegal for slaves to travel freely or meet.