Key Concepts from the Industrial Revolution and Societal Changes

These flashcards cover critical vocabulary and concepts related to the Industrial Revolution, societal changes in the North and South, and the impact of these developments on American society.

Industrial Revolution

A period of significant industrial growth that began in Great Britain, characterized by the development of new technologies and production methods.

Interchangeable Parts

Uniform components that can be made in large quantities to replace any identical part in a machine, enabling mass production.

Eli Whitney

Inventor known for popularizing interchangeable parts and inventing the cotton gin.

Waltham Lowell System

A highly organized factory system that primarily employed young single women and created 'company towns'.

Textile Mills

Factories that produce textiles, which became widespread in New England during the early 1800s.

Societal Changes in the North

Changes including the development of labor unions and movements against slavery during the Industrial Revolution.

Cotton Gin

A machine invented by Eli Whitney that increased the production capacity of cotton and led to a rise in slavery.

Market Revolution

A period of economic transformation in the United States characterized by the shift to a market-based economy.

American System

An economic plan that included a high tariff, a national bank, and internal improvements to connect various regions.

Transportation Improvements

Development of infrastructure such as roads and canals that facilitated trade and westward expansion.

National Road

A key transport route that enabled westward expansion and improved the movement of goods and people.

Erie Canal

A canal that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, crucial for transforming New York into a commercial hub.

Lowell Girls

Young women employed in textile factories during the Industrial Revolution who lived in boarding houses.

First Unions

Labor organizations formed in the North advocating for workers' rights during the Industrial era.

'Necessary Evil' of Slavery

A term used to describe the justification of slavery in the South as essential for agricultural production.