Time pEriod 4 SHE

Contextualization

In the 19th century, new technology, growing markets, and the extension of democracy to all white men fostered rapid economic growth and the development of a uniquely American identity and political culture. But this prosperity came at a cost, gobbling up the lands of Native Americans in the West and the labor of enslaved people in the South.

Market Revolution (Definition)

The 19th-century transformation of the U.S. economy driven by industrialization, transportation improvements, and increased commercial exchange.

Market Revolution (Effect)

Linked regional economies, encouraged specialization, and deepened sectional differences between the industrial North and the agricultural South.

Cotton Gin (Definition)

A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that quickly separated cotton fibers from seeds.

Cotton Gin (Effect)

Revolutionized cotton production, expanded slavery in the South, and fueled industrial growth in northern textile mills.

Erie Canal (Definition)

A canal completed in 1825 connecting the Hudson River to Lake Erie, opening western markets to eastern cities.

Erie Canal (Effect)

Reduced transportation costs, expanded trade, and made New York City the nation’s leading port.

Louisiana Purchase (Definition)

The 1803 acquisition of French territory that doubled the size of the U.S. and secured control of the Mississippi River.

Louisiana Purchase (Effect)

Encouraged westward expansion and intensified debates over the expansion of slavery.

Missouri Compromise (Definition)

The 1820 agreement admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, prohibiting slavery north of 36°30′ latitude.

Missouri Compromise (Effect)

Temporarily eased sectional tensions but highlighted the growing divide over slavery’s expansion.

American System (Definition)

Henry Clay’s plan promoting economic growth through a national bank, protective tariffs, and federally funded internal improvements.

American System (Effect)

Strengthened national markets and unity but sparked Southern opposition to perceived federal overreach.

Second Great Awakening (Definition)

A religious revival movement emphasizing personal salvation and moral reform during the early 1800s.

Second Great Awakening (Effect)

Spurred major reform movements such as temperance, abolition, and women’s rights, reshaping American moral culture.

Abolition Movement (Definition)

A campaign to end slavery in the U.S., led by figures such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison.

Abolition Movement (Effect)

Heightened sectional conflict and contributed to the polarization that led to the Civil War.

Women’s Rights Movement (Definition)

A reform movement advocating for gender equality, highlighted by the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention and Declaration of Sentiments.

Women’s Rights Movement (Effect)

Challenged traditional gender norms and began the long struggle for women’s suffrage and equality.

Indian Removal Act (Definition)

The 1830 law signed by Andrew Jackson authorizing the forced relocation of Native tribes west of the Mississippi.

Indian Removal Act (Effect)

Led to the Trail of Tears and demonstrated the federal government’s prioritization of white expansion over Native rights.