The Market Revolution (1815-1850)

Unit 4.2 Notes

Market Revolution

A period of economic transformation in the United States from 1815 to 1850 characterized by increased industrialization and commerce.

Cotton Gin

Invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, it revolutionized cotton processing and increased cotton production.

King Cotton

A phrase used to describe the dominance of cotton as the primary cash crop in the Southern United States.

Interchangeable Parts

Mass production method developed by Eli Whitney that made the assembly of products easier and more efficient.

Urbanization

The process by which cities grow as factories and jobs attract people from rural areas.

Nativism

A political policy favoring the interests of native-born Americans over immigrants.

Lowell Mill

A textile factory in Massachusetts that was the first to employ young women in the industrial workforce.

Industrial Revolution

A major change in the economy, where manufacturing shifted from small-scale hand production to large-scale machine production.

Erie Canal

Completed in 1825, this canal connected the Hudson River with Lake Erie, facilitating trade and transportation.

Transportation Revolution

The rapid expansion of transportation systems in the early 19th century, including roads, canals, and railroads.

Second Bank of the United States (BUS)

Held federal money and loaned to state banks, playing a critical role in financing infrastructure.

American System

An economic plan by Henry Clay that aimed to promote industry and transportation improvements.

Slave Labor

The system of forced labor in which enslaved individuals worked primarily on Southern plantations.

Black Belt

Region of the Deep South with fertile soil ideal for cotton cultivation, leading to concentrated slave populations.

Spinning Mule

A machine used for spinning cotton that improved the efficiency of yarn production.

Power Loom

A mechanized loom that greatly increased the speed and efficiency of textile manufacturing.

Technological Innovation

The introduction of new technology that changes and improves production processes.

Cotton Economy

The economic system in the South centered around cotton farming and dependent on slave labor.

Factory System

A method of manufacturing using machinery and division of labor, which became common in the 19th century.

Slavery Expansion

The growth of slavery across the Southern states in response to the high demand for cotton during the Market Revolution.