Early American Industrialization and Economic Expansion

Interchangeable Parts

Critical component of the factory system; standard parts instead of crafting from scratch; developed by Eli Whitney in 1798.

Samuel Slater

Built the nation's first factory in Pawtucket, RI, and helped develop the mechanical cotton spinner.

Cotton Gin

Separated seeds from cotton fibers; increased demand for slavery and westward expansion.

Internal Improvements

Program for building roads, canals, bridges, and railroads; debate over funding.

Lowell Mills

Textile mills using the Waltham system, staffed largely by women.

Samuel Morse

Invented the telegraph in 1844.

Yankee Ingenuity

Americans' willingness to embrace change and new technologies.

Panic of 1819

Economic crisis.

Waltham System

Factory management with on-site dormitories, cultural activities, and strict supervision.

2nd Great Awakening

Spread self-determination in faith and democratized Christianity; fueled demand for labor, mainly German and Irish immigrants.

Erie Canal

Completed in 1825; connected the East Coast to the Great Lakes.

American Plan

Connected western agriculture to northern markets; failed due to lack of national support.

Henry Clay

Congressman from Kentucky who strongly supported national unity.

Cotton Kingdom