Rise of American industry

By: Brad MacKenzie & Andrew Dawson

The canal era

Dewitt Clinton governor of New York started the canal era.

He petitioned to the New York state legislature to provided funding for “Clinton's ditch”

The project started in 1817 and lasted 8 years ending in 1825

Clintons ditch

Clintons ditch was a canal that spanned 350 miles

It cost 7 million dollars to build but by the time of its closure it had made 121 million dollars in revenue

The canals success sparked the startof many other canal projects acrossthe united states.

Canal expansion

In 1822 the Ohio canal, better known as the Erie canal was under construction.

The 1830’s-1860’s were the most prosperous time for the canal.

The canal was eventually filled in for “health reasons” but many believe

it was to build a new railroad.

Railroad expansions

All states west of the Mississippi were in rail construction by 1850.

Most lines at the time were concentrated in the northeast mainly in Boston New York and Philadelphia

The first trans-continental line

Started in 1863 and had construction on both coasts to meet the tracks in the middle.

Tracks meet on may 10th 1869 in promontory Utah.

By the end of the 1800’s there were 5 trans-continental railroads

Congress’ role in railway expansion

In 1805 Congress began granting federal land to develop railroads.

Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862. The act gave two companies responsibility for building the railroad.

Revolution

Political Oppression

Poor Economy

Lack of Work

Potato Famine

Homeless

Many immigrants took jobs that no one else wanted.RailroadsCanalsRoadsFactories

Germans moved west in search of farmland while the Irish stayed in cities.

Irish are discriminated by most businesses forcing them to work the hard, low paying jobs.

Irish and Black tensions erupt due to job competition.

Robert Fulton - Invented the first commercial steamboat in 1807, making transportation much easier and faster via waterways.

Samuel Morse – Invented telegraph in 1836 which would play a major role in the Civil War. This is what we call “Morse Code”

Elias Howe – Invented the sewing machine in 1844 and would later be improved by Isaac Singer in 1851. This made production of clothes much faster and would help in the war.

“The First American Factories [ushistory.org]." Ushistory.org. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/25d.asp>.

 "Inventors and Inventions [ushistory.org]." Ushistory.org. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/25c.asp>.

 "Irish and German Immigration [ushistory.org]." Ushistory.org. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/25f.asp>.