The market revolution

Economic and social changes after the War of 1812 transformed wage-earning into a primary condition of freedom.

Erie Canal: A significant waterway that enhanced transportation and trade.
Manufacturing Revolution: A period marked by a shift to larger, industrial production methods.
Jeffersonian Freedom: The idea that freedom is rooted in self-sustaining agricultural work.
Wage Freedom: The concept of earning a wage as a form of personal liberty.
Free Labor Ideal: The notion that labor should be voluntary and rewarded fairly, emphasizing personal ownership and independence.

I. Transformations
II. Wage Freedom

Steamboats
  - Introduction: First introduced in 1787, commercialized in 1807 by Robert Fulton on the Hudson River.
  - Impact: Helped conquer river currents, making transportation swifter and cheaper.
  - Example: Clermont, the first commercially successful steamboat, launched in 1807 (See Stanton, American Steam Vessels, p. 12).

Erie Canal
  - Dimensions: 363 miles long, 40 feet wide, and 4 feet deep.
  - Infrastructure: Included 18 aqueducts and 83 locks.
  - Significance: Often referred to as the “second creation,” it became the nation’s most profitable trade route.
  - Result: Elevated New York City to the status of an international financial capital.
Image: Photograph of an aqueduct over the Mohawk River at Rexford.

National Economy: Transportation revolution merged local economies into a unified national economy.
Shipping Costs: Dramatically lowered costs of shipping goods.
Merchants: Began purchasing crops prior to harvest, indicating a shift in economic dynamics.
Interdependency: Growth of cities and countryside complementing one another.

Population Growth: Population increased fourfold in the first half of the 19th century.
Migration Patterns: Eastern residents moved westward, leading to a boom in land markets and the establishment of new communities.

Communication Revolution
- Notably influenced by technological advances (not deeply elaborated in transcript).

Market Expansion: Western migration led to larger domestic markets.
Business Structures: Shift from individual merchants to corporations to mitigate risks.
Production Sites: Transition from households to factories as primary production venues.

Opportunities: New economic prospects in cities attracted migrants, leading to significant population increases in urban areas.
Driving Factors: Advances in agriculture propelled individuals from rural areas into urban centers, along with a notable increase in immigration accentuating city growth.
Visualization: A depiction of New York City in 1850 demonstrating this urban expansion.

Defined as the belief that true freedom comes from owning and farming one's own land.
Characterizes wage-earning as a form of dependency rather than independence.

Visual Representation: Cartoon depicting Abraham Lincoln as the “Railsplitter,” symbolizing the valor of labor.

Notable historical reference: The “Log Cabin and Hard Cider” Campaign linked to politicians such as Harrison and Tyler, showcasing the integration of labor ideologies in politics.
Notable Quote: Abraham Lincoln stated, “The man who labored for another last year, this year labors for himself, and next year he will hire others to labor for him,” highlighting the progressive view on labor and individualism in a capitalist context.