APUSH Unit IV for ACHS

Antebellum

the period before the American Civil War, specifically in the United States, typically associated with the Southern states' reliance on slavery and the growing tensions between the North and the South over the issue

Market Revolution

a 19th-century transformation in the United States that saw a change from a subsistence economy to one based on industrialization, transportation, and commercialization. this period saw the growth of a national market, the development of modern capitalism, and the establishment of a manufacturing and transportation infrastructure

the American System

a comprehensive economic plan proposed by Henry Clay that aimed to promote economic growth and protect domestic industries. it included a national bank, a protective tariff, and internal improvements such as the construction of roads and canals

Gov. DeWitt Clinton

governor of New York who was instrumental in the construction of the Erie Canal, which linked the Great Lakes with the Hudson River, significantly reducing transportation costs and encouraging trade and settlement in the Midwest

Erie Canal

a major canal that connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. its construction was a significant achievement in the 19th century, facilitating the transportation of goods and people between the Eastern seaboard and the Midwest

the Iron Horse

a term used to refer to the steam locomotive during the 19th century, which revolutionized transportation and played a crucial role in the development of the American economy and expansion to the West

“Tom Thumb”

the name of one of the first American-built steam locomotives, designed by Peter Cooper in the 1830s. its success demonstrated the potential of steam power for rail transportation

Turnpike

a road or highway on which a toll is charged for access. significant in the 19th century for financing the construction and maintenance of roads and canals

Cumberland (National Road)

the first major improved highway in the United States, constructed during the early 19th century. connected the Potomac River and the Ohio River and facilitated westward expansion

Maysville Road (veto)

refers to President Andrew Jackson's veto in 1830 of a bill that would have allowed the federal government to fund the construction of a road in Kentucky. Jackson's veto was based on his belief that internal improvements should be the responsibility of the states rather than the federal government

Samuel Slater

known as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution," he was an English-American industrialist who helped establish the first textile mills in the United States, bringing British textile technology to America

Limited Liability

a concept that limits investors' risk in a business to the amount of their investment. this legal structure, which protects individual investors from being held personally responsible for a company's debts, has encouraged entrepreneurship and investment in the United States

“Putting-out System”

a production method in which merchants would provide raw materials to rural households, which would then manufacture goods in their homes. this system was significant during the early stages of industrialization and was a precursor to the factory system

Lowell or Waltham System

a system of labor in early textile mills that involved employing young, unmarried women from local farms to work in the factories

Lowell Girls

young women who worked in the textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, during the Industrial Revolution. known for their contributions to the workforce and for advocating for better working conditions and wages

Lowell Female Labor Reform Association

a women's labor organization formed in response to poor working conditions in the Lowell mills. it advocated for better wages, improved working conditions, and greater opportunities for education and cultural enrichment for female workers

Eli Whitney

an American inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin, a machine that revolutionized the cotton industry by significantly speeding up the process of removing seeds from cotton fibers

Interchangeable Parts

identical components that can be used in place of one another in manufacturing. this concept, popularized by Eli Whitney, revolutionized production methods and paved the way for the mass production of goods

the Cotton Gin

a machine invented by Eli Whitney that automated the separation of cotton seeds from the fibers. its invention revolutionized the cotton industry, making cotton production much more profitable and contributing to the expansion of slavery in the Southern United States

John Deere

an American blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company, known for inventing the first commercially successful steel plow, which helped revolutionize agriculture by making it more efficient and productive

Cyrus H. McCormick

an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, known for inventing the mechanical reaper, a device that significantly increased the efficiency of harvesting grain

Samuel F.B. Morse

an American inventor and painter who invented the telegraph and Morse code, which revolutionized long-distance communication and had a profound impact on the development of global communication networks

Potato Famine

a period of mass starvation and disease in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. It was caused by a potato disease that destroyed the main food source of the Irish population, leading to a devastating humanitarian crisis and mass emigration to the United States

Whigs

a political party in the United States during the early to mid-19th century that was characterized by its support for a strong federal government, a protective tariff, and internal improvements

Know Nothings

a political movement and party in the mid-19th century that was known for its anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic stance. members of the Know Nothing movement sought to limit the influence of immigrants, particularly Catholics, in American society and politics