The People and Culture of the The People and Culture of the FrontierFrontier

West settled to escape overpopulation, West settled to escape overpopulation, rising land prices, worn-out soil rising land prices, worn-out soil

Settlers bring culture with themSettlers bring culture with them Cooperation, strong community necessary Cooperation, strong community necessary

for survivalfor survival Land values rise rapidly in a few yearsLand values rise rapidly in a few years Price rise encourages rootlessness as Price rise encourages rootlessness as

many sell out and move onmany sell out and move on

A Revolution in A Revolution in TransportationTransportation

Primitive land transportation in the East Primitive land transportation in the East was offset by shipping via the coastal was offset by shipping via the coastal waterwayswaterways

After the War of 1812 political leaders After the War of 1812 political leaders recognized the need the need to improve recognized the need the need to improve the country’s transportation networkthe country’s transportation network

Roads and SteamboatsRoads and Steamboats

National Road from Cumberland, National Road from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, VirginiaMaryland to Wheeling, Virginia

Private turnpikes built by entrepreneursPrivate turnpikes built by entrepreneurs Roads useful but unprofitableRoads useful but unprofitable

Roads and Steamboats (2)Roads and Steamboats (2)

Network of rivers encourage economic Network of rivers encourage economic developmentdevelopment

Flatboats transport down river earlyFlatboats transport down river early Steamboats transport upriver after 1811Steamboats transport upriver after 1811 Upriver capabilities reduce costsUpriver capabilities reduce costs Steamboat traffic stimulates Congress to Steamboat traffic stimulates Congress to

establish safety regulationsestablish safety regulations

The Canal BoomThe Canal Boom

Erie Canal first transportation link between Erie Canal first transportation link between East and West, 1825East and West, 1825

Canal cuts East-West transportation costs Canal cuts East-West transportation costs dramaticallydramatically

Canal stimulates commercial growth of Canal stimulates commercial growth of New York CityNew York City

Emergence of a Market EconomyEmergence of a Market Economy

Canals cut shipping expenses for western Canals cut shipping expenses for western farmers and eastern manufacturersfarmers and eastern manufacturers

Steamboats on the rivers also reduced Steamboats on the rivers also reduced shipping costs and stimulated commercial shipping costs and stimulated commercial agricultureagriculture

The Beginning of Commercial The Beginning of Commercial AgricultureAgriculture

Lower transportation costs mean greater Lower transportation costs mean greater income for the farmerincome for the farmer

Sale to distant markets involves farmers in Sale to distant markets involves farmers in a complex system of credita complex system of credit

Market stimulates specialization Market stimulates specialization Ohio Valley produces wheatOhio Valley produces wheat Lower South produces cottonLower South produces cotton

Commerce and BankingCommerce and Banking

Commercial farming stimulates new Commercial farming stimulates new system of marketing system of marketing

Farmers borrow on future crops Farmers borrow on future crops Use of credit stimulates banking Use of credit stimulates banking State banks increase after 1812State banks increase after 1812 1816--Second Bank of the United States 1816--Second Bank of the United States

created to check state bankscreated to check state banks Bank’s easy credit sparks Panic of 1819Bank’s easy credit sparks Panic of 1819

Early IndustrialismEarly Industrialism

Rise in manufacturing after 1812Rise in manufacturing after 1812 Traditional methods but innovative Traditional methods but innovative

financing through “putting out” systemfinancing through “putting out” system ““putting-out”--merchants deliver raw materials putting-out”--merchants deliver raw materials

for farm families, artisans to processfor farm families, artisans to process Textile industry leads development of Textile industry leads development of

factory systemfactory system

Internal ExpansionismInternal Expansionism

► ““Young Americans” link territorial growth to Young Americans” link territorial growth to other material achievementsother material achievements technological innovation—e.g. telegraphtechnological innovation—e.g. telegraph transportation improvementstransportation improvements growth of tradegrowth of trade mass immigrationmass immigration

► Discovery of California gold inspires Discovery of California gold inspires transcontinental projectstranscontinental projects

► Territorial expansion wanes after 1848, Territorial expansion wanes after 1848, economic, population growth continueseconomic, population growth continues

The Triumph of the RailroadThe Triumph of the Railroad

►1840s--railroad begins displacing 1840s--railroad begins displacing canals canals

►Rail construction stimulates iron Rail construction stimulates iron industry industry

►Railroads stimulate new forms of Railroads stimulate new forms of financefinance bonds bonds preferred stock preferred stock government subsidiesgovernment subsidies

Railroads, 1850 and 1860Railroads, 1850 and 1860

The Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution Takes OffTakes Off

►Mass production, the division of labor Mass production, the division of labor makes production more efficientmakes production more efficient

►Factory system emergesFactory system emerges gather laborers in one place for supervisiongather laborers in one place for supervision cash wagescash wages ““continuous process" of manufacturingcontinuous process" of manufacturing

►Agriculture becomes mechanized Agriculture becomes mechanized ►Northern economy based on interaction Northern economy based on interaction

of industry, transportation, agricultureof industry, transportation, agriculture

Mass Immigration BeginsMass Immigration Begins

►1840-1860--4 million Irish, Germans 1840-1860--4 million Irish, Germans immigrate to U.S.immigrate to U.S.

►Most come for higher wagesMost come for higher wages► Immigrants fill low-paying jobs in port Immigrants fill low-paying jobs in port

citiescities►Low immigrant wages contribute to Low immigrant wages contribute to

slumsslums►Urban reform movement resultsUrban reform movement results

Immigration to the United Immigration to the United States, 1820-1860States, 1820-1860

The New Working ClassThe New Working Class

►1840s--factory labor begins shifting 1840s--factory labor begins shifting from women, children to menfrom women, children to men

► Immigrants dominate new working Immigrants dominate new working classclass

►Employers less involved with Employers less involved with laborerslaborers

►Post-1837 employers demand more Post-1837 employers demand more work for less paywork for less pay

►Unions organized to defend worker Unions organized to defend worker rightsrights

The New Working Class (2)The New Working Class (2)

►Wage laborers resent discipline, Wage laborers resent discipline, continuous nature of factory work continuous nature of factory work

►Workers cling to traditional work habitsWorkers cling to traditional work habits►Adjustment to new work style was Adjustment to new work style was

painful and took timepainful and took time

The Costs of ExpansionThe Costs of Expansion

►Working class poses problem for idealsWorking class poses problem for ideals working for wages assumed the first step working for wages assumed the first step

toward becoming one’s own mastertoward becoming one’s own master new class of permanent wage-earners new class of permanent wage-earners

conflicts with old idealconflicts with old ideal►Economic expansion creates conflicts Economic expansion creates conflicts

between classesbetween classes►Territorial expansion creates conflicts Territorial expansion creates conflicts

between sections between sections ►Both sets of conflicts uncontrollableBoth sets of conflicts uncontrollable

Economic IssuesEconomic Issues

Interest in government economic policy Interest in government economic policy intensified after 1819intensified after 1819

Some wanted to do away with banks, Some wanted to do away with banks, paper money, and easy creditpaper money, and easy credit

Others wanted more government aidOthers wanted more government aid Political parties took stands on the role Political parties took stands on the role

of the federal government in economic of the federal government in economic growthgrowth

Labor Radicalism and Equal Labor Radicalism and Equal RightsRights

Working men’s parties and trade unions Working men’s parties and trade unions emerged in the 1820s and 1830semerged in the 1820s and 1830s

They advocated public education They advocated public education reform, a ten-hour workday, an end to reform, a ten-hour workday, an end to debtors prison, and hard currencydebtors prison, and hard currency

They made some gains but they proved They made some gains but they proved to be only temporaryto be only temporary

The women’s rights movement and The women’s rights movement and abolitionists made little progressabolitionists made little progress