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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)