America’s Economic Revolution

1. America’s Economic Revolution Chapter 10

2. Changing Population • 1820-1840 • Three Major Trends • Population increased rapidly • Massive migration from rural to urban settings in Northeast and Northwest • Massive migration west • 1790 – Population was 4 million • 1820 – Population was 10 million • 1830 – Population was nearly 13 million • 1840 – Population was nearly 17 million • 1850’s – 23 million to 31 million by 1859 • This population increase was more rapid than Britain or Europe • Reasons for population growth • Improvements in public health • High birth rate

3. Changing Population • Immigration • Had declined, but took off again in the 1830’s • Deteriorating economies in Europe, reduced transportation costs, and increased economic opportunities led to this increase • 1840 to 1850 – 1.5 million European immigrants • 1850’s – 2.5 million immigrants • Urban Growth • Immigration contributed to this growth • Internal migration from rural areas also contributed • 1840-1860 • Urban growth accelerated during this time • NYC – 312,000 to 805,000 (1.2 million if Brooklyn is included) • Philly – 220,000 to 565,000 • Boston – 93,000 to 177,000 • 26% lived in town or cities (only 14% in 1840)

4. Changing population • Agricultural economy of the western states • Major cities emerged – St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh • All were major centers of trade because of location on Mississippi/tributaries • Trade route connected farmers in midwest with New Orleans, and then cities of Northeast • New Immigrants • Came from a variety of countries • Irish and German Immigrants made up an overwhelming majority • 1850 – Irish – 45%; Germans 20% of total foreign born US residents • Reasons for their immigration • Germany – Industrial Revolution caused widespread poverty; revolution of 1848 failed to bring liberal changes; • Ireland – oppressiveness of English rule; catastrophic failure of potato crop (1845-49) • Patterns of Settlement • Germany – Moved to Northwest; became farmers/businessmen – Largely because the Germans came to US with more wealth than Irish – Most were family groups or single men • Irish – Settled in Eastern cities; Became unskilled laborers – Arrived with practically no money – Most were single women, largely working in factories or in domestic work

5. nativism • Supporters of Immigration • Industrialists – large supply of cheap labor • Land speculators – immigrants to area would increase population and popularity of area • Political leaders – population increase would increase political influence of the region • Groups Against Immigration • Nativist – defense of native-born people; hostility to foreign-born; desire to stop or slow immigration • Racism/Discrimination against Immigrants • Some blamed conditions in slums on them • Some complained they stole jobs from others because they were willing to work for low wages • Protestants warned of growing power of Catholics in political settings in cities • Native American Party • Supreme Order of the Star-Spangled Banner • Became the Know-Nothing Party • Also known as the American Party • Strength of party declined in 1854 • Impact – contributed to the collapse of the existing party system (Whigs and Democrats), which created new political alignments

6. Transportation • Steamboats • 1820’s – Steamboats grew in number • Allowed for navigation up the Mississippi in a more timely manner • Canals • Offered a way to take advantage of new steamboats to create a direct water route to cities in Northeast • Cheaper ways to send agricultural products from west to Northeast led to more profit for farmers and cheaper prices for cities • Erie Canal • October 1825 – Opened • Engineering feat • Gave direct access, through Great Lakes, from Chicago to NYC

7. transportation • Railroads • Technological breakthroughs led to increase in RR’s • Baltimore and Ohio – 1st to being operations • RR’s were largely short lines to begin with • Competition between Canals and RRs • 1840 – 2,818 miles of track • 1850 – 9,021 miles of track • 1850’s – track miles tripled in this decade • Northeast had the most comprehensive and efficient system • Consolidation of lines into longer runs led to increased dependence on the RRs and lessening of use of canals • Capital to fund RRs came from private investors and huge loans from other countries – Local cities/states/etc. also contributed large amounts of capital.

8. Communication • Telegraph • Lines expanded along the RR lines • Contributed to split between North and South, as the North was much more connected to each other • Samuel FB Morse • By 1860 – more than 50,000 miles of wire • Western Union Telegraph Company • Journalism • Steam Cylinder Rotary Press – Could print newspapers everyday • Associated Press • City newspapers began to appear • Horace Greeley – Tribune • James Gordon – Herald • Henry Raymond – Times • Rise of journalism led to rise in sectionalism, as most papers were in the North and the South felt unable to defend themselves

9. Expansion of business