Unit 4.6 - Effects of the Market Revolution on Society & Culture

key terms/events and significance

Effects on Women (SOC)

• No longer work next to their husbands on family farms / seek employment in a city (domestic service or factory work)

• Gained more control over their lives / moral leaders within home / less arranged marriage / cult of domesticity (new view of women)

• Legal restrictions remained (cannot vote)

Immigration in the Period (MIG / WXT)

• Sudden increase of immigrants (after 1832) / Europeans sought a new life in America

• Immigration was a result of development of inexpensive & rapid ocean transportation + families & revolutions in Europe + economic opportunities & political freedom (U.S. reputation) → strengthened economy (inexpensive labor + increase demand for mass produced goods)

Urban Life & the Industrial Revolution (MIG / WXT)

• North’s population growth → crowded housing, poor sanitation, infectious diseases & high rates of crimes

• Continue to attract people from farming communities by new opportunities offered in cities → small towns turn into thriving cities

Organized Labor & Commonwealth v. Hunt (WXT)

• Workers organized into labor parties to protect urban workers’ interests (dependant for wages in factories but the working conditions were not great)

• Notable victory of organized labor: the right to negotiate labor contracts with employers → improvements but were still limited (periodic depression + hostility to unions + immigrants)