Key Terms – Chapter 11: The Expanding Republic (1815–1840)

• Erie Canal (p. 303)
  A man-made waterway completed in 1825 that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, drastically lowering transportation costs and accelerating economic development in the Northeast and Midwest.

• Lowell Mills (p. 305)
  Textile factories in Massachusetts that employed young, unmarried women under strict supervision. Represented the rise of industrialization and wage labor in the early American economy.

• Second Bank of the United States (p. 307)
  Chartered in 1816 to stabilize the currency and credit system. It became a major political issue when Andrew Jackson opposed it, leading to its eventual dismantling.

• Whigs (p. 309)
  A political party formed in the 1830s that supported congressional supremacy, internal improvements, and moral reform. Opposed Jacksonian Democrats and favored a market-driven economy.

• Democrats (p. 309)
  The political party that evolved from Jeffersonian Republicans, led by Andrew Jackson. Advocated for states’ rights, limited government, and the interests of the “common man.”

• Indian Removal Act of 1830 (p. 312)
  Law passed under Andrew Jackson that authorized the removal of Native American tribes from their lands in the Southeast to designated territory west of the Mississippi River.

• Trail of Tears (p. 314)
  The forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation in 1838, resulting in the deaths of around 4,000 people due to harsh conditions. A direct consequence of the Indian Removal Act.

• Nullification (p. 315)
  The belief that states could invalidate federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. Sparked the Nullification Crisis in 1832 when South Carolina challenged a federal tariff.

• Separate Spheres (p. 317)
  A gender ideology that assigned women to the private sphere (home, morality, family) and men to the public sphere (work, politics). Reinforced traditional roles during the market revolution.

• Second Great Awakening (p. 319)
  A Protestant religious revival in the early 19th century that emphasized individual salvation and social reform, inspiring movements like temperance and abolition.

• American Temperance Society (p. 320)
  A reform organization founded in 1826 to curb alcohol consumption. It gained widespread support and became one of the largest and most influential reform movements.

• New York Female Moral Reform Society (p. 320)
  Established in 1834 to combat prostitution and promote sexual morality. Led by women who expanded their role in public life through social activism.

• Panic of 1837 (p. 326)
  A financial crisis triggered by the collapse of banks, speculative lending, and Jackson’s economic policies. Led to a severe depression that lasted into the 1840s.

Detailed Timeline (1815-1840)

1806: Congress authorizes the construction of the National Road.

1807: Robert Fulton's steamboat, the Clermont, makes its first successful voyage up the Hudson River.

1815:

• The post-War of 1812 period begins a transition towards a market economy in the United States.

• Hundreds of textile mills are established in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania, spurred by the Embargo Act.

1816: The Second Bank of the United States is chartered to stabilize the currency and credit system.

1821:

• Construction begins on the water-powered Lowell Mills in Massachusetts, centralizing cloth production.

• The construction of turnpikes is significantly inspired, leading to 4,000 miles of such roads.

1825:

• The Erie Canal is completed, connecting the Hudson River to Lake Erie and revolutionizing transportation and trade.

• The first steam-powered train begins operation in England.

1826: The American Temperance Society is founded to curb alcohol consumption.

1829: The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the first in the US, begins operation with 13 miles of track.

1830:

• The US has 23 miles of railroad track.

• The Indian Removal Act is passed under President Andrew Jackson, authorizing the removal of Native American tribes from the Southeast.

1832: The Nullification Crisis occurs when South Carolina challenges a federal tariff, asserting the belief that states could invalidate federal laws.

1834: The New York Female Moral Reform Society is established to combat prostitution and promote sexual morality.

1836:

• There are approximately 750 steamboats operating on American rivers, making cities like St. Louis and New Orleans significant economic centers.

• Around 5,000 women are working at the Lowell Mills.

1837:

• The construction of canals reaches approximately 4,000 miles in the US.

• The Panic of 1837, a major financial crisis, begins due to the collapse of banks, speculative lending, and Jackson's economic policies.

1838:

• The National Road extends 600 miles from Baltimore, Maryland, to Vandalia, Illinois.

• The forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation, known as the Trail of Tears, occurs, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 4,000 people.

1840: The US is in the midst of a severe economic depression following the Panic of 1837. The political landscape is increasingly shaped by the rivalry between the Democrats and the Whigs.

1850: The US has approximately 30,000 miles of railroad track.

Cast of Characters with Brief Bios

• Robert Fulton: (1765-1815) An American engineer and inventor who is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat, the Clermont, which demonstrated the viability of steam-powered river transportation in 1807.

• Samuel Slater: (1768-1835) An early English-American industrialist known as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution." He established the first successful textile mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in the 1790s, introducing British textile technology to the United States.

• Andrew Jackson: (1767-1845) The seventh President of the United States (1829-1837). His presidency was marked by the rise of Jacksonian Democracy, advocating for the "common man," states' rights, and limited government. He opposed the Second Bank of the United States and oversaw the passage and implementation of the Indian Removal Act.

• The "Young, Unmarried Women from the Farm" (Lowell Mill Girls): While not a single individual, this group represents a significant demographic shift in early industrial labor. These women, primarily from rural New England, were hired to work in textile mills like those in Lowell, Massachusetts. They lived in company-owned dormitories under strict rules and earned wages, contributing to the changing nature of work and gender roles, though often facing low pay and demanding conditions.

• The Cherokee Nation: A Native American tribe originally located in the Southeastern United States. They were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in 1838 as a result of the Indian Removal Act, an event known as the Trail of Tears, which led to immense suffering and death.

• The Whigs: A major American political party formed in the 1830s in opposition to President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. They generally supported a strong national government, congressional supremacy, internal improvements (like roads and canals), a national bank, and moral reform movements. They favored a more market-driven economy.

• The Democrats: The major American political party that evolved from the Jeffersonian Republicans and was led by Andrew Jackson during this period. They generally advocated for states' rights, limited federal government, and policies that they believed benefited the "common man," often in opposition to the more business-oriented policies of the Whigs.