Transportation

changes…

First Turnpike- 1790 Lancaster, PA

First Turnpike- 1790 Lancaster, PA

By 1832, nearly 2400 mi. of road By 1832, nearly 2400 mi. of road connected most major cities.connected most major cities.

Cumberland (National Road), 1811

Cumberland (National Road), 1811

Conestoga Covered WagonsConestoga Covered Wagons

Conestoga Trail, 1820sConestoga Trail, 1820s

Erie Canal SystemErie Canal System

Begun in 1817; completed in 1825Begun in 1817; completed in 1825

Principal Canals in 1840Principal Canals in 1840

The “Iron Horse” Wins! (1830)The “Iron Horse” Wins! (1830)

1830 1830 13 miles of track built by Baltimore & 13 miles of track built by Baltimore & Ohio RROhio RR

By 1850 By 1850 9000 mi. of RR track [1860 9000 mi. of RR track [1860 31,000 31,000 mi.]mi.]

TheRailroad

Revolution,1850s

TheRailroad

Revolution,1850s

• Immigrant laborImmigrant laborbuilt the No. built the No. RRs.RRs.

• Slave laborSlave laborbuilt the So. built the So. RRs. RRs.

Resourcefulness & Experimentation

Resourcefulness & Experimentation

• Americans were willing to try Americans were willing to try anything.anything.

• They were first copiers, thenThey were first copiers, theninnovators.innovators.

1800 1800 41 patents were 41 patents were approved.approved.

1860 1860 4,357 4,357 ““ ““ ““

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin, 1791

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin, 1791

Actually Actually invented by a invented by a

slave!slave!

Eli Whitney’s Gun FactoryEli Whitney’s Gun Factory

Interchangeable Parts RifleInterchangeable Parts Rifle

OliverEvansOliverEvans

First prototype of the First prototype of the locomotivelocomotive

First automated First automated flour millflour mill

John Deere & the Steel Plow(1837)

John Deere & the Steel Plow(1837)

Cyrus McCormick& the Mechanical Reaper:

1831

Cyrus McCormick& the Mechanical Reaper:

1831

Samuel F. B. MorseSamuel F. B. Morse

1840 – Telegraph1840 – Telegraph

Cyrus Field & the Transatlantic Cable,

1858

Cyrus Field & the Transatlantic Cable,

1858

Elias Howe & Isaac SingerElias Howe & Isaac Singer

1840s1840sSewing MachineSewing Machine

• They all regarded material They all regarded material advance as the natural fruit of advance as the natural fruit of American republicanism & proof of American republicanism & proof of the countrythe country’’s virtue and promise.s virtue and promise.

The “American Dream”The “American Dream”

A German visitor in the 1840s, A German visitor in the 1840s, Friedrich List, observed:Friedrich List, observed:

Anything new is quickly introduced Anything new is quickly introduced here, including all of the latest here, including all of the latest inventions. There is no clinging to inventions. There is no clinging to old ways. The moment an old ways. The moment an American hears the word American hears the word ““invention,invention,”” he pricks up his ears. he pricks up his ears.

Creating a Business-Friendly Climate

Creating a Business-Friendly ClimateSupreme Court Rulings:Supreme Court Rulings:

** Fletcher v. PeckFletcher v. Peck (1810) (1810) ** Dartmouth v. WoodwardDartmouth v. Woodward (1819)(1819) ** McCulloch v. MarylandMcCulloch v. Maryland (1819) (1819) ** Gibbons v. OgdenGibbons v. Ogden (1824) (1824) ** Charles Rivers Bridge v. Charles Rivers Bridge v. WarrenWarren Bridge Bridge (1835) (1835)General Incorporation Law General Incorporation Law passedpassed in New York, 1848. in New York, 1848.Laissez faire Laissez faire BUT, govt. did muchBUT, govt. did much to assist capitalism! to assist capitalism!

Distribution of WealthDistribution of Wealthv During the American During the American

Revolution,Revolution,45% of all wealth in the top 45% of all wealth in the top 10% of10% ofthe population.the population.

v 1845 Boston 1845 Boston top 4% owned top 4% owned overover 65% of the wealth. 65% of the wealth.v 1860 Philadelphia 1860 Philadelphia top 1% top 1% ownedowned over 50% of the wealth. over 50% of the wealth.v The gap between rich and poor The gap between rich and poor waswas widening! widening!

Samuel Slater(“Father of the Factory Syste

m ”)

Samuel Slater(“Father of the Factory Syste

m ”)

The Lowell/Waltham System:

First Dual-Purpose Textile Plant

The Lowell/Waltham System:

First Dual-Purpose Textile Plant

Francis Cabot LowellFrancis Cabot Lowell’’s town - 1814s town - 1814

Lowell in 1850Lowell in 1850

Lowell MillLowell Mill

Early Textile Mill Loom FloorEarly Textile Mill Loom Floor

New EnglandTextile

Centers:

1830s

New EnglandTextile

Centers:

1830s

New England Dominance in Textiles

New England Dominance in Textiles

The Early Union MovementThe Early Union Movement

WorkingmanWorkingman’’s Party s Party (1829)(1829) ** Founded by Robert Dale Owen Founded by Robert Dale Owen and and others in New York City. others in New York City.Early unions were usually local, Early unions were usually local, social, and weak.social, and weak.

Commonwealth v. HuntCommonwealth v. Hunt (1842).(1842).

Worker political parties were Worker political parties were ineffective until the post-Civil ineffective until the post-Civil War period.War period.

Regional SpecializationRegional Specialization

EAST EAST IndustrialIndustrial

SOUTH SOUTH Cotton & SlaveryCotton & Slavery

WEST WEST The NationThe Nation’’s s ““BreadbasketBreadbasket””

American Population Centers in 1820

American Population Centers in 1820

American Population Centers in 1860

American Population Centers in 1860

National Origin of Immigrants:1820 - 1860

National Origin of Immigrants:1820 - 1860

Why now?Why now?

Changing Occupation Distributions:1820 - 1860

Changing Occupation Distributions:1820 - 1860