TheNorthandSouthPPT-1

The North & South (1820-1860)

The North

Economic Growth

• Industry Growth

  • Continuous growth in the Northern industrial sector.

  • Introduction of new machines:

    • Sewing machine: Revolutionized clothing production.

    • Steel plow: Enhanced farming efficiency.

    • Mechanical reaper: Increased crop harvest efficiency.

• Migration of Labor:

  • Some farm workers moved to Northern factories for work.

Innovations

• Telegraph:

  • Invented by Samuel Morse.

  • Enabled instant communication, which contributed to business efficiency and growth.

  • Farmers in the West could quickly learn where to send goods, enhancing trade.

Railroads

• Revolutionized Transportation and Business:

  • Railroads connected cities and facilitated fast movement of goods and people.

  • Despite benefits, some people opposed railroads, citing safety concerns.

  • There were very few railroads in the South compared to the North.

Shipping Advances

• Clipper Ships:

  • Utilized for faster transport but were eventually replaced by British steamers.

Industrial Advancements

• Steam Power:

  • Factories transitioned to using steam power instead of traditional water power, leading to a rise in industrial facilities across the region.

• Production Increases:

  • New machines and inventions resulted in higher production rates and, consequently, lower prices.

  • Railroads (RRs) connected cities and distributed goods efficiently.

Life in the North

Factory Conditions

• Working Environment:

  • Factories used steam-powered machines; some families worked together in these factories.

  • Long working hours:

    • Some shifts lasted from 4 AM to 7:30 PM.

  • Poor conditions: Dirty and unhealthy environments prevailed.

• Regulation:

  • No laws governing working conditions or safety in factories.

  • Initiation of worker organization and artisans forming trade unions to advocate for better conditions.

Immigration Trends

• 1840s & 1850s Population Boom:

  • Approximately 4 million immigrants arrived in the U.S.

  • The Irish Potato Famine led many Irish to flee to America, settling primarily in cities and working in factories.

  • The 1850s also saw around 1 million German immigrants.

• Nativism:

  • Nativists reacted negatively against immigrants, believing they stole jobs and contributed to crime.

  • Formation of the Know-Nothing Party in response to anti-immigrant sentiments.

The South

Cotton Economy

• Cotton as a Staple:

  • British and Northern factories heavily relied on Southern cotton.

  • The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney improved cotton production significantly, making cotton processing much quicker (equivalent to the work of 50 people).

• Booming Production:

  • This led to the establishment of the Cotton Kingdom, increasing the demand for slave labor for planting and harvesting.

Planter Society

• Wealth from Cotton:

  • Wealthy planters used profits from cotton to acquire more land and slaves.

  • Few factories developed in the South due to investments in land and slaves instead of industrialization.

• Economic Dependence:

  • The Southern economy became heavily dependent on cotton production for mills in Europe and the North.