Forging the National Economy Chapter 14. Westward Movement Western reality: – Little food, supplies, shelter – Disease, depression, premature death –

Forging the National Economy

Forging the National EconomyChapter 14Westward MovementWestern reality:Little food, supplies, shelterDisease, depression, premature deathPoorly educatedRugged IndividualismDespite individualism, neighbors could serve an important role

Population Growth1860:U.S. has 33 states4th most populous nation in the Western world (Russia, France, Austria)43 cities with more than 20,000 peopleNYC, New Orleans, ChicagoHigh birthrates and immigration lead to high population growthReasons for immigration:Population growth in Europe = surplus populationLand of freedom and opportunityFreedom from government, religionAvailable landSteamships = quick transport

Population Increase, Including Slaves and Indians, 17901860Irish ImmigrantsMid 1840s: Potato famineToo poor to move west and buy landLive in Eastern cities (NY, Boston)Live in slumsDisliked by many AmericansBarely literate, take jobs as kitchen maidsWork on canals and railroadsDepress wages in jobsNo Irish Need ApplyIrish resented blacks, race riots (Competition for jobs)Politics attracts the IrishGain control of city machines (NY Tammany Hall)Irish dominated police departmentsPoliticians work to get the Irish vote (1830-1860: 2 million)German ImmigrantsUprooted farmers, political refugeesHave more belongings than the Irish, move to the Mid-West (Wisconsin)Establish farmsContributions to American Culture:Conestoga wagonsKentucky rifleChristmas treeWell educated, support public schools (Kindergarten)Enemies of slavery (supporters of freedom)

Anti-Foreign ProblemsAmerican Nativists fear the new immigrantsFear that they will outbreed AmericansFear that they will eventually out voteFear that they will take jobs from AmericansFear of foreign religion: Roman CatholicismStart a Catholic education system (catholic schools)5th largest denomination by 1850 (1.8 million)Fear of establishing the Catholic church and introducing the power of the PopeNativists want actionOrder of the Star Spangled Banner or Know Nothing party- secret groupWant restrictions on immigration and naturalization, deportationViolence:1830s: Catholic convents are burned, attacks on schools and churches1844: Riots in Philadelphia, Irish Catholics fight back, 2 churches burned, 13 killed, 50 woundedProblems of City GrowthSlums: poor run down communitiesPoor lighting: apartments dont have many windowsInadequate police: population grows too fast to keep upImpure water: leads to sicknessToo many people in cities to keep up with sanitation.Foul sewageLack of garbage disposal

Cleveland in 1853, by J. W. Hill

Industrial RevolutionBegins in Britain around 1750Machines begin to replace human workers making mass production of textiles possibleAlso leads to revolutions in agriculture, transportation, communicationIndustrialism slowly spreads from Britain to other parts of the worldReasons for slow development in the U.S.:Cheap landScarce laborNo money for capital investmentsLack of access to raw materialsLack of domestic marketBritish monopoly on textile machinesSamuel SlaterFather of the American Factory SystemMemorizes the plans for British textile machinesEscapes in disguise to the U.S.Wins the backing of Moses Brown (Quaker capitalist in RI)Reconstructs the textile machine and puts it into operation in 1791This Machine Changes Everything

The Cotton GinProblem: picking the seeds from cotton fiber was a slow, labor intensive projectMan with the Plan: Eli Whitney, Massachusetts inventor, graduate of Yale, moves to GASolution: 1793, he invents a machine that easily and quickly removes the seed from cotton. (50x more effective than hand picking)The Cotton Gin Changes the WorldRaising of cotton becomes highly profitableSouth is tied to King Cotton and slaveryRevives and increases the demand for slave laborMore land cleared for cotton, westward pushCotton fiber is sent to northern factories, exported in large amounts to BritainFactories grow throughout New EnglandReasons:Stony soil discourages farmingDense population = labor sourceSeaports = easy import/exportRapid rivers = power the factory machines

Interchangeable PartsProblem: Many products (especially guns) are handmade. Each part is a little different. If one piece breaks no guarantee another part would replace it.Man With The Plan: Eli WhitneySolution: Uses machines to make each part so that they were similar. Parts could replace others.Impact:Widely adopted by 1850Leads to modern mass productionNew TechnologySewing Machine: Invented by Elias Howe, perfected by Isaac SingerDriving force of clothing industryTelegraph: (1844) Invented by Samuel F.B. Morsetalking wires Provides instant communication over long distancesMorse CodeInventions help agriculture:Steel Plow (1837): John DeereMechanical Reaper: Cyrus McCormickCould do the work of 5 men

Inventions

Changes for WorkersMovement from home to factoriesWage Slaves- term for workersConditions:Long hoursLow wagesUnsafe working conditionsCriminal to start labor unionsChild Labor1820: of workers are younger than 10Problems caused:Mental issuesStunts physical growthEmotional problemsWhipped

Improvements in ConditionsDemocrats demand 10 hour work day, higher wages, better conditions, public education, end of imprisonment for debtEmployers fight the 10 hour workdayLessen production, increase costs, demoralize workers, leisure time = bad things1840: Martin Van Buren establishes the 10 hour day for federal employees on public works, states eventually follow1830s-1840s: Strikes held for higher pay, shorter hoursEmployees usually lose strikes, since employers could use scabs as replacement workers1830: 300,000 trade unionists1842: Commonwealth v. HuntMassachusetts Supreme Court rules that labor unions are not illegal conspiraciesMethods are honorable and peacefulWomen and the EconomyOpportunities for work outside the home changes the role of women10% work outside the home in 185020% work outside the home by the time of marriageFactoriesFactory jobs promise economic independence for womenLowell, Massachusetts (Textile Mill)Almost all workers are NE farm girlsSupervised on and off the jobLive in company boarding housesForbidden to form unionsConditions for factory girls:6 days a week, 12-13 hours a dayCult of Domesticity Cultural belief that glorified the functions of the homemaker

Francis Cabot Lowells Mill, Waltham, Massachusetts, 1826Built in 1814, Lowells mill was a marvel of manufacturing efficiency. It combined all phases of production, including spinning and weaving, under one roof.

Conditions in LowellDear Father,I received your letter on Thursday the 14th with much pleasure. I am well, which is one comfort. My life and health are spared while others are cut off. Last Thursday one girl fell down and broke her neck, which caused instant death. She was going in or coming out of the mill and slipped down, it being very icy. The same day a man was killed by the [railroad] cars. Another had nearly all of his ribs broken. Another was nearly killed by falling down and having a bale of cotton fall on him. Last Tuesday we were paid. In all I had six dollars and sixty cents paid $4.68 for board. With the rest I got me a pair of rubbers and a pair of 50 cent shoes. Next payment I am to have a dollar a week beside my board...I think that the factory is the best place for me and if any girl wants employment, I advise them to come to Lowell.Excerpt from a Letter from Mary Paul, Lowell mill girl, December 21, 1845.

Improvements in TransportationQuick transport of raw materials to the factories is critical Lancaster Turnpike (Pennsylvania) 1790sCompleted by private company62 miles long, hard surfaceSharp pikes guarded the road until you pay the tollMakes profit, stimulates western development, turnpike building boomNational Road (Cumberland Road) 1811Cumberland, MD to Vandalia, Illinois (591 miles)States rights supporters protest government constructionSteamboat (1807)Invented by Robert FultonInstalls steam engine on the Clermont, Fultons FollyTravels from NYC to Albany, NY (150 miles in 32 hours)People could now defy wind, wave, tide, current1 mph vs. 10 mph1820: 60 steamboats on Mississippi , 1860: 1,000Opens the West and South

Erie CanalNY Governor DeWitt Clinton oversees the building of a canal to connect the Great Lakes to the Hudson RiverCalled Clintons Big DitchConstruction begins in 1817, completed in 1825Stretches 363 milesTransport of goods at 5 mphCost of shipping a ton of grain from Buffalo, NY to NYC falls from $100 to $4Value of land along the canal increasesNew cities (Rochester and Syracuse) developMidwestern and Great Lakes cities grow with profits from farmingFalling farm prices hurt some NY farmers

The RailroadMost significant contribution to the economyFaster, more reliable, and cheaper than canalsDont freeze in the winterCould go almost anywhere you laid trackFirst railroad in U.S. 18281860: 30,000 miles of track (3/4 in the North)1833: NY prohibits railroads from carrying freight to protect the Erie CanalEarly railroads could be very dangerousImprovements to scheduling, safety, comfort (Pullman cars) will make travel better.

Market RevolutionTransformation of subsistence economy of small farms and workshops to a national network of industry and commerce.Movement from farms to factoriesProduction to purchaseFewer homemade goodsNew roles and jobs for womenIncreased prosperity, but massive divisions between rich and poorOverall standard of living increases 1% a year (1820-1860)