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Forging the National Economy

Chapter 14 delves into the westward movement of the 19th century, highlighting the migration of adventurous youth seeking new opportunities. It explores the harsh realities of frontier life, including severe weather, isolation, disease, and the toll of mass hunting on wildlife. The arrival of immigrants, especially during the "Black Forties," drastically altered urban landscapes with overcrowding and slum conditions. Nativism arose in response to these changes, sparking tension. The chapter also examines industrialization, labor struggles, and the evolving roles of women in an economy shaped by the factory system and agriculture.

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Forging the National Economy

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  1. Forging the National Economy Chapter 14

  2. Westward Movement • Young population of adventurers move out west. • Frontier Life • Harsh weather conditions • Loneliness/Depression • Premature Death • Disease • Ill-Informed • Superstitious • Individualistic

  3. Western Landscape • Steady westward expansion left land exhausted. • Fur-Trappers • Beaver (mid 1800s) and Buffalo (1860s) non-existent after mass hunting for pelts/robes • “Ecological Imperialism” • George Catlin • Painter that captured the West • Advocated for preservation of nature. • Observed Sioux Indians in S. Dakota slaughter buffalo in order to trade the tongues for the white man’s whiskey. • Proposed creation of national parks

  4. The March of the Millions • 1860: 33 States in the union. • Urban growth exploded • Intensified problems • Smelly Slums • Inadequate Police • Impure Water • Foul Sewage • Rats • Improper Garbage Disposal • By 1850’s immigration rates quadrupled at uncomfortable rates.

  5. Immigration • Why did they come? • Push Factors • Overpopulation • Unemployment • Religious differences • Pull Factors • The promise of opportunity & freedom • Land • “America Letters”: Letters sent home from immigrants • Low taxes • No compulsory military service • “Three meat meals a day”

  6. The Voyage • Transatlantic Steamship • 12 Days • Jammed into unsanitary quarters • High Death Rate • Diseases

  7. Irish • Potato Famine • ¼ of population died of diseases & hunger (over 2 million) • Mass immigration to US “Black Forties” • Financially poor population • Flooded Boston & New York City • Segregated into slum-like living conditions • Stereotyped • Biddies (Bridgets): Kitchen jobs • Paddies (Patricks): Hard labor (canal & railroad work)

  8. Continued……. • Discrimination • Factory signs: “No Irish Need Apply” • Competition between African Americans • Riots broke out • Low-skill levels • Education cut short to help the family • In time, the Irish will become one of the most influential and politically powerful immigrant group in the US.

  9. German • Farmers • Political refugees • Came to the US with $$$$ • Contributions • Supported education (kindergarten) • Against slavery • Self-sufficient • Beer • Most bought land

  10. Anti-Foreign Flare-up! • Nativists • Feared foreigners would: • Outbreed • Outvote • Overwhelm • Competition for Jobs • Spread of Catholicism • Know-Nothing Party • Violent political group that were more than open about their disdain for immigrants.

  11. Why was the US so late in industrializing?

  12. Industrial Revolution • Late? • Slow in development • Cheap land • Labor is scarce • Factory System is born • North embraces Industrialism • Mass production of goods • Need mass amounts of labor

  13. Continued….. • Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin • Pulls seeds from the cotton. • No longer labor intensive • However, now there is a huge need for more slaves.

  14. Manufacturing • Interchangeable parts • Assembly-line method • Sewing Machine • Elias Howe & Isaac Singer • Telegraph • Samuel Morse • “talking wires” Instant communication

  15. Factory System • Long Hours: 15+ Hours • Low wages • Little to no food • Unsanitary buildings • Poor ventilation/light/heat • Forbidden by law to form labor unions • Child Labor • Under ten years of age • Physically abused • Growth physically stunted.

  16. Continued….. • Soon adult workers realized that their strongest weapon was to lay down their tools. • Strikes broke out • Fought for higher wages • Acceptable working hours (10 hours) • Strike-Breakers • “Scabs” and “Rats” were brought in to break up stikes

  17. Women & The Economy • Moved to the factory system • Promised • Economic independence • Buy manufactured products • “Factory girls” • 12-13 Hours • 6 Days a week • Lowell Workers • Carefully monitored young women. • Supervised on and off job. • Working Women • Single • Once married, left the work force and started families and “Cult of Domesticity” • Family Average declined • 6-5 children • Sense of Feminism

  18. Farm System • New breakthroughs in the farming system made plowing easier for farmers. • John Deere • Steel Plow • Cyrus McCormick • Mower-Reaper

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