The Market Revolution and its impact in Antebellum America

Immigration and Urban Growth

• Many cities in free states grew. In fact, by 1860, 26% percent of the population of free states was living in towns and cities. Compared to 14% in 1840. The percentage was higher for industrializing states.

• The booming agricultural economy led to many small villages becoming major cities (Pittsburg, Louisville). All of these were located on the Mississippi river and became centers of trade. However, after 1830, shipping began heading towards the Great Lakes, creating new Urban centers (Buffalo, Chicago).

• Urban population grew as general population grew (23 million to 31 million). Urban growth resulted in a flow of people to cities from Northeast farms.

• Immigration raised to 2.5 million by the 1850s. Many of these were immigrants/ foreign-born. Many went to slave states instead of free ones. 

• Many of the immigrants were Irish or German. Germans fled because of widespread poverty from industrial revolution economic dislocations and the collapse of the liberal revolution. Irish fled because of oppressiveness and unpopularity of English rule and Ireland’s potato famine.

• Irish immigrants went to eastern cities for skilled labor and German immigrants went to the northwest for farms and businesses. Germans arrived with some money and for their family. Irish had no money and were single women finding jobs.

The Rise of Nativism

• Native-born Americans welcomed new immigration for large labor and low wages. People in the west and land speculators hoped immigration would expand the population,market for land, and goods. Political leaders in the West hoped immigration would make their population swell.

  • Eastern cities, urban population encourage immigrants to enhance political strength.

• Other Americans expressed “nativism”; Some of which was due to racism. Some had low estimates of immigrant’s abilities. They claimed the rural sums they lived in to back this up, unaware imm. had no money. Protestants feared Catholics were gaining foothold in the American gov. Other said imm. Sold their votes and brought in radical ideas.

• To stop the “alien menace”, nativists established the Native American Party in 1850. They later combined to form the Supreme Order of the Star Spangled Banner( banned Catholics from public office, naturalization laws, literacy tests) Became “Know-Nothings”.

• The Know-Nothings became the American Party. They scored a huge vote & won the state government in Massachusetts. Western members found it too troublesome because of Protestant beliefs.

The Emergence of the Factory

• Before, most manufacturing was in private households, done by hand. In the 1820s, entrepreneurs began to used water- powered for textile operations.

• Particularly in Eastern Mass., shoe production was becoming concentrated. By 1860, manufactured goods were equal to agricultural products.

• Northeast plants held 938,000 workers and 74,000 manufacturing plants.

Advances in Technology

• American technology was becoming more advanced than ever. Fine items still mainly came from England.

• The government supported research on the development of machine tools. The turret lathe was used for cutting screws and metal parts. The milling machine replaced hand chiseling of complicated parts, dies, and rifle parts. 

• Interchangeable parts were produced by Eli Whitney and Simon North, mainly for steam engines, watches, and farming.

• Coal replaced wood and water in factories.

• The number of patents rose to 4,778 in 1839 (vulcanizing rubber, sewing machine)

• Factories to turned alternative sources of energy because lakes froze in the winter.

Men & Women at Work

Recruiting a Native Workforce

• Finding new workers was hard due to many people working on farms and not enough unskilled workers. 

• Instead, farmers turned to improvements in the transportation system and new equipment to reap more, particularly in the West. Less labor.

• Many textile factories hired families (including children) who worked together. Others enlisted young women, known as the Lowell of Waltham system, who later married.

• Labor conditions were better and children were safer, working alongside their parents.

• In England, conditions for women were bad. In the NE, had boardhouses, dormitories, fed, supervised, own newspaper. Women working was considered immoral and employers ensured proper environment, curfews, and church attendance.

• Many women found it difficult switching to factory life because of the same, tedious tasks. They had no other choice, though.

• The Lowell system did not last long due to the American economy. Wages decline, work hours lengthened, boarding houses deteriorated.

• The Factory Girls Association protested wage cuts and increased rent (both attempts failed). Later, Sarah Bagley formed the Female Labor Reform Association, advocating for legal investigations, 10 hour work days, and improved conditions.

The Immigrant Workforce

• Immigrant workers had less leverage than women because of the new environment. They received low wages and lived in flimsy shanties.

• Irish workers created worse working conditions in NE. Employers paid by piece rates and used devices to speed up production. 

• The average workday was extending 12-14 hours, wages declined to $4-$10 per week for skilled workers and $1-$6 per week for unskilled workers. Women and children made less than men.