Chapter 10Chapter 10Economic Transformations in Economic Transformations in the Northeast and the Old the Northeast and the Old NorthwestNorthwest

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I. Economic GrowthI. Economic Growth

The Trans-Atlantic Context The Trans-Atlantic Context for Growthfor Growth

Economic growth in America was linked and Economic growth in America was linked and influenced by a host of events elsewhere in the influenced by a host of events elsewhere in the world, particularly in England.world, particularly in England.

The British Industrial Revolution spurred The British Industrial Revolution spurred technical innovations that had far-reaching technical innovations that had far-reaching implications.implications.

Population growth and improvements in food Population growth and improvements in food production through agricultural science also production through agricultural science also were factors in European and American growth.were factors in European and American growth.

Factors Fueling Economic Factors Fueling Economic DevelopmentDevelopment

The abundant natural resources of the The abundant natural resources of the United StatesUnited States

Increased labor pools, due to immigration Increased labor pools, due to immigration from Europefrom Europe

Improved modes of transportation (canals, Improved modes of transportation (canals, railroads)railroads)

A New MentalityA New Mentality

The rapid spreads of literacy and The rapid spreads of literacy and education after 1800 spurred innovation education after 1800 spurred innovation and discovery, leading to increased and discovery, leading to increased productivity.productivity.

Under the direction of Horace Mann, Under the direction of Horace Mann, reform of state education for white reform of state education for white children ballooned in 1837.children ballooned in 1837.

The Advance of The Advance of IndustrializationIndustrialization Based on the British model, the growth of Based on the British model, the growth of

industrialization in America fueled industrialization in America fueled enormous economic growth in the years enormous economic growth in the years before the Civil War.before the Civil War.

Organization of production into the Organization of production into the separate steps of manufacturing began separate steps of manufacturing began to replace the age-old process of “putting to replace the age-old process of “putting out.”out.”

Environmental ConsequencesEnvironmental Consequences

The impact of the swift economic growth The impact of the swift economic growth of America had significant environmental of America had significant environmental repercussions.repercussions.

Insatiable demands for wood as fuel and Insatiable demands for wood as fuel and building material destroyed forests and building material destroyed forests and promoted soil erosion.promoted soil erosion.

A later shift to coal blanketed the larger A later shift to coal blanketed the larger cities in pollution.cities in pollution.

II. Early ManufactureII. Early Manufacture

Two Examples of Two Examples of TransformationTransformation Unprecedented increase in availability of Unprecedented increase in availability of

printed material and increased literacy printed material and increased literacy gave Americans the opportunity to form gave Americans the opportunity to form their own opinions and enrich their lives.their own opinions and enrich their lives.

Production of inexpensive timepieces Production of inexpensive timepieces focused the average American’s attention focused the average American’s attention on the value of time and created the on the value of time and created the industrial rhythm of life as we know it industrial rhythm of life as we know it today.today.

III. Urban LifeIII. Urban Life

The Process of UrbanizationThe Process of Urbanization

The impact of economic growth was The impact of economic growth was experienced most directly by those experienced most directly by those living in the nation’s cities, which living in the nation’s cities, which emerged into three types:emerged into three types:

Commercial centersCommercial centersMill townsMill townsTransportation hubsTransportation hubs

Class Structure Class Structure in the Citiesin the Cities The inequities of wealth and lifestyle in the The inequities of wealth and lifestyle in the

urban areas reflected social fluidity and urban areas reflected social fluidity and the potential for everyone to “make it.”the potential for everyone to “make it.”

Americans believed capitalists deserved Americans believed capitalists deserved the profits from the economic expansion the profits from the economic expansion of the country. of the country.

The growing inequities solidified class The growing inequities solidified class lines and led to increased social agitation lines and led to increased social agitation and labor protests.and labor protests.

Middle-Class Life Middle-Class Life and Idealsand Ideals The new middle class benefited from the The new middle class benefited from the

economic growth in antebellum America.economic growth in antebellum America. Furnished houses with the latest Furnished houses with the latest

conveniences were the rule compared to conveniences were the rule compared to the inadequate housing of the working the inadequate housing of the working class.class.

Genteel behavior and etiquette as well as Genteel behavior and etiquette as well as specific designations for gender.specific designations for gender.

Mounting Urban TensionsMounting Urban Tensions

Social tensions as a result of class Social tensions as a result of class distinctions and wealth inequities led to distinctions and wealth inequities led to dramatic increases in urban violence in dramatic increases in urban violence in the years before the Civil War.the years before the Civil War.

Large American cities were slow to Large American cities were slow to establish a professional police force establish a professional police force relying instead on volunteer constables.relying instead on volunteer constables.

The Black UnderclassThe Black Underclass In the sixty years before the Civil War, the In the sixty years before the Civil War, the

number of free blacks in America rose number of free blacks in America rose dramatically.dramatically.

Most of these free blacks lived in the large Most of these free blacks lived in the large northeastern cities.northeastern cities.

They did not enjoy the rewards of the economic They did not enjoy the rewards of the economic expansion of the times.expansion of the times.

Black civil rights were repressed everywhere.Black civil rights were repressed everywhere. Educational opportunities for free blacks were Educational opportunities for free blacks were

minimal.minimal.

IV. Rural CommunitiesIV. Rural Communities

Farming in the EastFarming in the East

During the antebellum period, fertile land in the During the antebellum period, fertile land in the east was beginning to run out.east was beginning to run out.

Irresponsible farming techniques drained the Irresponsible farming techniques drained the land of nutrients, and eastern farmers realized land of nutrients, and eastern farmers realized the futility of competing with western grain the futility of competing with western grain farmers.farmers.

The solution was an increase in cattle farming The solution was an increase in cattle farming for meat and milk and fresh vegetable for meat and milk and fresh vegetable production for the urban markets.production for the urban markets.

Frontier FamiliesFrontier Families After the War of 1812, movement to the After the War of 1812, movement to the

Old Northwest began in earnest.Old Northwest began in earnest. Changes in federal land policy helped Changes in federal land policy helped

stimulate migration.stimulate migration. The Old Northeast was only considered The Old Northeast was only considered

the frontier for thirty years.the frontier for thirty years. Mistaken ideas about agriculture caused Mistaken ideas about agriculture caused

farmers to ignore prairies as arable land.farmers to ignore prairies as arable land.