Erie Canal, Cotton Industry, Lowell Mills & 19th Century American Economy

When was the Erie Canal construction project completed?

1825

Who was the New York governor responsible for the Erie Canal project?

DeWitt Clinton

What three substances comprise the gunpowder used to build the Erie Canal?

Nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur

How long did the digging of the Erie Canal take, and what was the approximate cost?

Eight years and $7 million

What was the human cost of building the Erie Canal?

Nearly a thousand lives

What economic transformation did New York City undergo following the opening of the Erie Canal?

It became a boom town

Why was the word 'millionaire' invented in 1840?

Due to the accumulation of significant wealth in New York City.

Is it true that the Northern states were a perfect breeding ground for cotton?

False; cotton is native to tropical regions.

How was cotton processed before the invention of the cotton gin?

It was processed by hand, with one pound taking an entire day to complete.

When was the patent for the cotton gin filed?

March 4.

What was the impact of the cotton gin on processing efficiency?

It allowed one man to process 50 times more cotton than before.

What was the long-term societal impact of the cotton gin?

It automated cotton processing and deeply divided the country.

What portion of the world's cotton was America producing by 1830?

Half

By 1850, what fraction of the world's cotton was produced by America?

Nearly three-quarters (3/4)

Why was cotton referred to as 'White Gold' in the South?

Due to its immense economic value

How did the industrial North interact with the reality of Southern slavery?

They profited from Southern cotton while turning a blind eye to the institution of slavery

What was the relationship between the cotton explosion and the Southern economy?

Slavery became critical to the Southern economy as it thrived on the exploitation of enslaved humans

Why did cotton production move westward during the 19th century?

To find fertile soil, as overproduction had destroyed the land in previous areas.

What was the primary issue at the center of the first battles of the Civil War?

Slavery.

Which city is known as the 'city of spindles'?

Lowell, Massachusetts.

How much did the population of Lowell, Massachusetts, grow between 1820 and 1835?

It exploded from 200 to nearly 200,000.

What proportion of the population in Lowell worked in the mills?

More than one-third.

What was the demographic profile of 85% of the workers in Lowell mills?

Single women between the ages of 15 and 25.

What was the impact of the mills on American society regarding clothing?

They revolutionized how Americans dressed.

What industry was spawned by the mass production of cheap cotton fabrics?

The ready-made clothing industry.

How did families typically acquire clothing before the rise of mass production?

They made their own clothes at home.

By 1850, what was the largest manufacturing industry in New York City?

Men's clothing.

What modern technological region traces its roots to the technology developed in Lowell mills?

Silicon Valley

How did looms pioneer the production of fabric patterns?

By using punch cards to control the weaving process

Why are punch card loom instructions considered a form of binary code?

Each hole represents a yes-no decision

What machine from the cotton mills is considered the ancestor of the computer and the internet?

The loom

What was the primary innovation that emerged from the Lowell mills alongside fashion?

Technology that laid the foundation for modern computing

What did the women of the Lowell Mills do after work?

They gathered to organize.

What was the significance of the Lowell Mill strikes?

They were among the first protests against wage cuts in US history.

What was the outcome of the Lowell Mill strikes?

The mill bosses backed down.

What professions did a generation of young women from the Lowell Mills pursue?

They became teachers, writers, and college graduates.

Who was the leading suffragette from the Lowell Mills who testified before Congress?

Harriet Robinson

What movement resulted in women gaining the right to vote?

The suffrage movement

What provided the light necessary for secret night meetings during this era?

Lamps

What was the primary fuel source for America before the discovery of crude oil?

Whale oil

How much oil can a single whale produce?

Up to 3,000 gallons

How much annual revenue did the whaling industry bring in for the North?

1 million dollars

What is the statistical risk for a whaling ship at sea?

Half of all whaling ships will eventually be lost.

How did the whaling industry provide opportunities for African-Americans?

It served as an opportunity for 20,000 freemen and escaped slaves to take to the seas.

Why was the whaling industry considered 'ahead of its time'?

It offered equal opportunity to workers regardless of race.

How long does it typically take to kill a whale?

Several hours.

Who invented the state-of-the-art harpoons used by whalers?

Runaway slave Lewis Temple.

How did enslaved people view the dangers of the sea compared to their lives?

They considered the dangers at sea preferable to the horror of life as a slave.

What was the consequence for enslaved people who attempted to escape?

Savage punishment.

What was the market price of a man in New Orleans following the cotton boom?

1,000 dollars.

What was the market price of a woman in New Orleans following the cotton boom?

600 dollars.

What was the market price of a child in New Orleans following the cotton boom?

500 dollars.

What percentage of African Americans in the United States were enslaved?

90%

Near which city did Frederick Douglass begin his escape to freedom?

Baltimore

Approximately how many slaves successfully escaped each year?

At most 1,000

What were some common punishments for slaves caught attempting to escape?

Having ears cut off, Achilles tendons slashed, or being branded

Why were men like Frederick Douglass considered the 'worst nightmare' of the South?

Because they represented successful escapes and challenged the institution of slavery

What advantage did Frederick Douglass have over most enslaved people regarding his physical appearance?

He had a better chance of passing as a free man.

What percentage of enslaved people were unable to read or write?

Approximately 80%.

What specific skills did Frederick Douglass possess that distinguished him from the majority of enslaved people?

The ability to read and write.

What was the purpose of the documents that Black Americans were required to carry?

To prove their status as free individuals or to identify who they belonged to.

How did Frederick Douglass obtain the papers he used to prove his status?

They were borrowed from a friend.

Why would Frederick Douglass's borrowed papers fail an examination?

They would not hold up to careful scrutiny.

What is the significance of New York City in Frederick Douglass's life?

It is where he arrived and gained his freedom.

What movement did Frederick Douglass become a leading figure in?

The anti-slavery movement.

What major literary work did Frederick Douglass write?

A best-selling autobiography.

With which U.S. president did Frederick Douglass meet and debate at the White House?

Abraham Lincoln.

What does Frederick Douglass become at a time when slaves are barely regarded as people?

An icon

Frederick Douglass is the best-known African-American in which country?

America

Who is the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad?

Harriet Tubman

What do Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman do to everything the South stands for?

They threaten it

Approximately how many slaves escaped via the Underground Railroad?

Nearly 60,000

What was the estimated financial impact of the Underground Railroad on slave owners?

Up to 50 million dollars in losses

Beyond financial loss, what did the Underground Railroad threaten in the South?

The South's way of life

How did the South view the preservation of their way of life?

They were prepared to do whatever it took to preserve it

What effect did the Fugitive Slave Law have on the North's perception of Southern slavery?

It brought the brutality of Southern slavery to the North

What was the impact of the Fugitive Slave Law on the safety of African-Americans?

It meant that no African-American was safe anywhere

What term described the intense search for runaway slaves?

Witch Hunt

What was the legal status of an African-American accused of being a runaway slave?

They could be condemned based on a simple accusation

Did a freeman have the right to a trial by jury under these laws?

No

How much were federal magistrates paid to rule a person free?

$5

How much were federal magistrates paid to rule a person enslaved?

$10

Why was the $10 payment to federal magistrates for ruling someone a slave considered a bribe?

It created a financial incentive to rule in favor of enslavement rather than freedom

Which book published in 1852 became the best-selling book of the century after the Bible?

Uncle Tom's Cabin

What was the primary social and political issue dominating American discourse during this period?

Slavery

What was the central conflict between the North and South regarding the expansion of American territory?

Whether new territories would be admitted as slave-owning or free states

Where were Americans from across the country flooding into during this era of expansion?

The new frontier territories

Why did each new territory become a battleground between the North and South?

Because the status of each territory as either slave-owning or free would shift the balance of power

What was the significance of Kansas regarding the conflict over slavery?

It was the location where the conflict over slavery came to a head.

How did the nature of protests in Kansas change?

Peaceful protests turned violent.

What happened to the homesteads of both Northerners and Southerners in Kansas?

They were burned as neither side would back down.

How did the perception of John Brown differ between the North and the South?

He was viewed as a folk hero in the North and a terrorist in the South.

What metaphor describes the state of the divide between the North and the South during this period?

An open wound.

What event preceded the American Civil War and involved two years of conflict in Kansas?

Bleeding Kansas

What was John Brown's primary objective at Harpers Ferry, Virginia?

To capture the federal arsenal

What was the ultimate goal of John Brown's plan to arm Southern slaves?

To lead a slave rebellion

Which branch of the US military arrived to suppress John Brown at Harpers Ferry?

The US Marines

Who was the colonel in command of the soldiers that stormed the arsenal at Harpers Ferry?

Robert E. Lee

How did John Brown's trial affect public opinion on slavery?

His capture captivated the country and brought the issue of slavery to the forefront.

What was the state of America regarding the issue of slavery during the time of John Brown?

The country was fatally divided.