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Forging the National Economy

Forging the National Economy. Chapter 14 . Westward Movement. Young population of adventurers move out west. Frontier Life Harsh weather conditions Loneliness/Depression Premature Death Disease Ill-Informed Superstitious Individualistic . Western Landscape.

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Forging the National Economy

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  1. Forging the National Economy Chapter 14

  2. Westward Movement • Young population of adventurers move out west. • Frontier Life • Harsh weather conditions • Loneliness/Depression • Premature Death • Disease • Ill-Informed • Superstitious • Individualistic

  3. Western Landscape • Steady westward expansion left land exhausted. • Fur-Trappers • Beaver (mid 1800s) and Buffalo (1860s) non-existent after mass hunting for pelts/robes • “Ecological Imperialism” • George Catlin • Painter that captured the West • Advocated for preservation of nature. • Observed Sioux Indians in S. Dakota slaughter buffalo in order to trade the tongues for the white man’s whiskey. • Proposed creation of national parks

  4. The March of the Millions • 1860: 33 States in the union. • Urban growth exploded • Intensified problems • Smelly Slums • Inadequate Police • Impure Water • Foul Sewage • Rats • Improper Garbage Disposal • By 1850’s immigration rates quadrupled at uncomfortable rates.

  5. Immigration • Why did they come? • Push Factors • Overpopulation • Unemployment • Religious differences • Pull Factors • The promise of opportunity & freedom • Land • “America Letters”: Letters sent home from immigrants • Low taxes • No compulsory military service • “Three meat meals a day”

  6. The Voyage • Transatlantic Steamship • 12 Days • Jammed into unsanitary quarters • High Death Rate • Diseases

  7. Irish • Potato Famine • ¼ of population died of diseases & hunger (over 2 million) • Mass immigration to US “Black Forties” • Financially poor population • Flooded Boston & New York City • Segregated into slum-like living conditions • Stereotyped • Biddies (Bridgets): Kitchen jobs • Paddies (Patricks): Hard labor (canal & railroad work)

  8. Continued……. • Discrimination • Factory signs: “No Irish Need Apply” • Competition between African Americans • Riots broke out • Low-skill levels • Education cut short to help the family • In time, the Irish will become one of the most influential and politically powerful immigrant group in the US.

  9. German • Farmers • Political refugees • Came to the US with $$$$ • Contributions • Supported education (kindergarten) • Against slavery • Self-sufficient • Beer • Most bought land

  10. Anti-Foreign Flare-up! • Nativists • Feared foreigners would: • Outbreed • Outvote • Overwhelm • Competition for Jobs • Spread of Catholicism • Know-Nothing Party • Violent political group that were more than open about their disdain for immigrants.

  11. Why was the US so late in industrializing?

  12. Industrial Revolution • Late? • Slow in development • Cheap land • Labor is scarce • Factory System is born • North embraces Industrialism • Mass production of goods • Need mass amounts of labor

  13. Continued….. • Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin • Pulls seeds from the cotton. • No longer labor intensive • However, now there is a huge need for more slaves.

  14. Manufacturing • Interchangeable parts • Assembly-line method • Sewing Machine • Elias Howe & Isaac Singer • Telegraph • Samuel Morse • “talking wires” Instant communication

  15. Factory System • Long Hours: 15+ Hours • Low wages • Little to no food • Unsanitary buildings • Poor ventilation/light/heat • Forbidden by law to form labor unions • Child Labor • Under ten years of age • Physically abused • Growth physically stunted.

  16. Continued….. • Soon adult workers realized that their strongest weapon was to lay down their tools. • Strikes broke out • Fought for higher wages • Acceptable working hours (10 hours) • Strike-Breakers • “Scabs” and “Rats” were brought in to break up stikes

  17. Women & The Economy • Moved to the factory system • Promised • Economic independence • Buy manufactured products • “Factory girls” • 12-13 Hours • 6 Days a week • Lowell Workers • Carefully monitored young women. • Supervised on and off job. • Working Women • Single • Once married, left the work force and started families and “Cult of Domesticity” • Family Average declined • 6-5 children • Sense of Feminism

  18. Farm System • New breakthroughs in the farming system made plowing easier for farmers. • John Deere • Steel Plow • Cyrus McCormick • Mower-Reaper

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