chapter 12

Chapter 12: Industry and the North 1790s–1840s

Overview

• Focus on the transformations of the North, particularly in industry and transportation during the late 18th to early 19th centuries.

Focus Questions

• Effects of the transportation revolution: Key impacts on movement and economics.

• Market revolution: Transformation in commerce and industry.

• Migrations to the Old Northwest: Changes in demographics and culture.

• Industrialization's impact on work: Shift in labor dynamics and structure.

• Market revolution's effect on ordinary lives: Changes in everyday experiences and social structures.

• New middle class values: Emergence of societal norms and expectations.

Industrialization and Lowell Mills

Role of Textile Mills

• Key industrial site: Boott Cotton Mills, Lowell, MA.

• Target audience: Young women from rural New England seeking new opportunities in textile mills.

• Initial promises of prospering work conditions changed with wage cuts and poor management, leading to conflict.

Community Formation

• Women created a community as they transitioned from farm work to factory labor.

• Wage cuts in the 1830s prompted strikes, ultimately leading to displacement by lower-paid Irish immigrants.

• Overall market revolution reshaped working conditions and social structures.

Transportation Revolution

Roads and Canals (1800-1840)

• Dramatic improvements in roads and canals facilitated travel and commerce.

• National Road: Funded by the federal government to connect the East and West.

• Erie Canal: Built with state funds, premiered in 1825; essential for trade and transport.

Innovations in Travel

• Steamboats: Revolutionized water travel, enhancing trade along rivers.

• Railroads: Began emerging in the 1830s, connecting regions and further facilitating the transport of goods and people.

• Transformation in communication and transportation linked the developing West with the East and promoted national pride.

Effects of the Transportation Revolution

• Enhanced American mobility and fostered a sense of national identity.

• Led to significant commercialization and economic growth, creating new markets for agriculture and manufacturing.

The Market Revolution

Economic Accumulation

• Stimulated by rapid transportation improvements, commercialization, and industrialization.

• Focus on wealth accumulation by merchants; reliance on Southern cotton for industrial growth.

• Emergence of a national economy and interconnected markets.

Transformation of Labor Systems

• Putting-Out System: Raw goods processed at home; gradual shift towards centralized workshops.

• Families transitioned from cottage industries to accepting piecework jobs in factories.

• Increased reliance on mass-produced goods altered shopping habits.

Migration to the Old Northwest

New Migration Patterns (1830-1850)

• Quadrupled population driven by improved transport routes (National Road and Erie Canal).

• Migration brought diverse cultures and customs that influenced local life.

Economic Development

• Farmers leveraged transportation to access wider markets; land policies encouraged agriculture.

• Innovations like the McCormick reaper increased productivity and commercial agriculture grew.

Industrialization and Work Culture

Technological Transition

• Inspired by British industrial methods, notably in textiles.

• Samuel Slater introduced cotton-spinning technology from England, leading to the establishment of mills in New England.

Lowell Mills Significance

• Francis Lowell's innovations led to the establishment of the first integrated cotton mill; characterized by a structured workforce and town.

• Many mills relied on family labor, yet local relations often became strained as communities adjusted to industrialization.

Shift in Labor Dynamics

• American System of Manufactures: Interchangeable parts revolutionized production processes; mass production became feasible and efficient.

• Distinction between skilled artisans and factory workers emerged, leading to new social hierarchies.

Changing Lives During the Market Revolution

Pre-Industrial Work Environment

• Predominantly farming; labor was informal and community-centric.

• Industrialization shifted this dynamic and introduced wage labor.

Effects on Gender Roles

• Artisans lost status as skilled male workers faced job competition.

• Female laborers increasingly entered the workforce, particularly in garment factories, facing poor conditions and inadequate pay.

Reorganization of Time and Leisure

• Workers adjusted to factory demands, leading to stricter schedules and separation of work and leisure.

• Emergence of leisure spots reflected changes in worker social life and leisure activities post-industrialization.

New Middle Class Values

Class Dynamics Shift

• Emergence of the middle class blended with mobility and economic changes.

• New social standards were enforced by employers, modifying family dynamics and daily life.

Religious and Personal Influences

• The Second Great Awakening influenced middle-class values; emphasized individualism, faith, and self-discipline.

• Middle-class family ideals shifted; women took on nurturing roles while men focused on providing.

Cultural Reflections

• Growth of sentimental literature showcased middle class's concerns with morality and social codes.

• Transcendentalist thought placed importance on individualism and relationships with nature.

Conclusion: Market Revolution Impacts

• Improvements in transportation, commercialization, and industrialization significantly altered societal norms, daily life, and economic structures in early 19th-century America.

Timeline of Key Events

• 1790: Samuel Slater’s first mill opens in Rhode Island.

• 1810: First steamboat on the Ohio River.

• 1825: Erie Canal opens.

• 1834: First strike at Lowell mills; significant labor movements begin to take root.