Forging the National Economy
(1790-1860)
Chapter 14
1
The Westward Movement
• Ralph Waldo Emerson’s
essay Self Reliance
• Called for the need for
each individual to avoid
conformity and follow his
or her own instincts and
ideas
2
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 (barnraising socials)
3
Shaping the Western Landscape
• Westward movement molded environment
• Tobacco exhausted the land and many farmers
moved further west
• Ecological imperialism—exploitation 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
4
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
5
Back East…
• Urban areas
• Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans, Chicago
• Harsh conditions
– Slums
– inadequate police forces
– poor sanitation
– disease
6
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 days—not
weeks (death rate not as high)
7
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 family’s survival
8
9
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)
10
11
• The Irish faced ethnic discrimination because
of their Catholic faith and for the reputation
as 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
12
Ethnic Discrimination
• The USA was not welcoming to most Irish
• NINA—No Irish Need Apply often posted in
business windows
• Irish imposed discrimination upon free African
Americans who were viewed as competition
for the low paying jobs (ethnic riots)
13
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
Dream…owning their own land (land was the
ultimate symbol of success)
• Children’s education was often cut short so they
could help provide income for the family to get
one step closer to that dream
14
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.
15
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 1860’s and 1870’s
16
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
17
The German Immigrants
• 1 ½ million Germans immigrated to the USA
between 1830-1860
• 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
18
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
19
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
20
21
Flare-ups of Antiforeignism
• “nativists” displayed prejudice towards
newcomers 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
22
Nativism Became Political
• “Order of Star-Spangled Banner”—also 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
23
1856 Know-Nothing Political Platform: Americans
must rule America; and to this end, native-born
citizens should be selected for all state, federal, or
municipal offices of government employment, in
preference to naturalized citizens
24
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
25
The March of Mechanization
• The industrial revolution was slow to gain
momentum in the USA. WHY??
1. land was cheap (most would rather own land
than work for someone else)
2. Until the mass immigration of the 1830’s, there
was not a significant labor force in the USA
3. Those with money were not willing to invest in a
risky industry
4. The USA did not have the technology to explore
natural resources needed for industry
26
• In the late 1700’s America simply could not
compete with the other industrial nations
which were already producing cheap, high
quality goods
27
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)
28
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
29
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
30
• 1790-1810 cotton production increased from
3,000 bales/year to 178,000 bales/year
• 1790-1810 slaves in South 700,000 to
1,200,000
31
• The South became a new single crop based
economy “The Cotton Kingdom”
• The south flourished & expanded cotton
kingdom toward west
32
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
33
The Sewing Machine
• The abundance of textiles being
produced in the north (with the
southern cotton) led to new 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
34
Patents and Business Organizations
• By the 1860’s, more than 28,000 patents had
been applied for, American ingenuity at work
• Those who invested money in industry were also
legally protected—if there was a law suit or if the
factory went bankrupt, the investor was only out
his own shares of stock—limited liability
• Laws of “free incorporation” (1848)-no need to
apply for charter from legislature to start a
corporation
35
Samuel Morse’s 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?”
36
Agricultural Revolution
• The Trans-Allegheny region (Ohio-Indiana-Illinois)
became nation’s 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
37
Cyrus McCormick
• Developed the
mechanical mowerreaper
• 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)
38
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; ½ of force
was based on child labor
39
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
40
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
41
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
42
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
43
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
44
45
The Cult of Domesticity
• Glorified woman’s 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 woman’s 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
46
The Child Centered Family
• By the 1800’s the notion of arranged
marriages was being replaced with genuine
relationships
• Parents showed more affection and attention
to their children (a child’s will should be
shaped not broken)
• The size of families became smaller by choice
(average size was 6)
47
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
48
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 (1811-1852 )funded by state & federal
funds
49
• 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
50
51
The Iron Horse
• 1st railroad in US (1828)
• By 1860-30,000 mi. railroad tracks in USA, 3/4
of them in the north
• At first there was opposition to the
development of railroads…canal 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
52
53
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 British’s iron tramp
steamers
• The Pony Express until 1860 mail delivery to
remote areas between Missouri to California
54
55
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
56
An Interconnected Economy
• By the civil war, a continental economy had
developed in which each region relied upon
the other regions for economic prosperity
• North—industry, immigrants, a market for
goods in the south and west
• South—the cotton kingdom, slave labor,
provided cotton to New England and British
textile mills
• West—grain and livestock fed northern
workers and people in Europe
57
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
58
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)
59