Westward Expansion &The Market Revolution

1815-1840

Movement WestwardIncreased Westward movement following War of 1812

Louisiana Purchase open to settlement

Soldiers had been offered land incentives for enlistment

Indian tribes were now vulnerable to settlers

British/Spanish had attempted to protect Western Indians

Indian tribes will be repeatedly pushed further West and on to reservations

By 1840 1/3 American population between Appalachian mountains and Mississippi river

Western settlers will develop a unique society

Eastern society rejected by Western values

Provided a safety valve for democracy (F.J. Turner)

Movement WestwardFederal government reduces the price of Western lands

Agricultural Boom

Increased European demand for American food crops

American prices increase rapidly

Increases settlement near transportation corridors

Demand for cotton increases Southern expansion

Beginning of the Cotton Kingdom

England’s industrial revolution increases demand

Eli Whitney’s cotton gin increases profitability

Unintended consequences

Prevents the disappearance of slavery

Slavery becomes deeply entrenched in Southern economy

Movement WestwardTransportation Revolution

Facilitated Westward movement

Steamboats

Drastically decreased time to market and price of river transportation

Made the development of canals feasible

Canals

Golden age of canals 1820-1830

Erie Canal 1825

Railroads

1830’s on replace canals

Will revolutionize transportation in the next two decades

Market EconomyShift from an exchange and subsistence economy to one

controlled by market pressures

Shift in farming

Many farmers abandon subsistence farming

Farmers favor cash crops

Prices vary wildly and determined by the market

Many farmers borrow money to sustain themselves during short term difficulties

Additional cash in the economy and specialization of farming methods encouraged industrialization

Market EconomyRise of industrialization

Mass production will replace hand produced goods

Causes of Industrialization

American industry developed in isolation

Embargo Act

Protective tariffs

Revolutions in agriculture/transportation allowed Western markets to purchase mass produced goods

Immigration

British immigrants stole technology from English mills

Other immigrant groups would supply a labor force

Abundant raw materials

Market EconomyLowell and Waltham

Radically change the ideas of industry in America

Massachusetts textile mills

Workers were primarily young girls

Supplement farm economy

Dramatically increase independence

Women lived on sight

Created reliable labor force

Harsh work environment

Long hours

Difficult conditions

Low wages

Provided a model for future industrial growth

Market EconomyRise of the Cities (factors)

Most rapid urbanization in American history 1820-1860

Transportation networks

Immigration

Industrialization

Class Conflict

Industrialization created a growing disparity between rich and poor

Industrial workers made up a visible lower class

Independent farmers and artisans struggled to maintain the “middling classes”

Many disappeared into the lowest classes

Increasing emphasis on individualism