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8. What factors allow for the rise of the factory system in the United States?

8. What factors allow for the rise of the factory system in the United States?. Industrial Revolution begins in Britain Develops steam engine and inventions to mechanize textile production, but keep secret

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8. What factors allow for the rise of the factory system in the United States?

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  1. 8. What factors allow for the rise of the factory system in the United States? • Industrial Revolution begins in Britain • Develops steam engine and inventions to mechanize textile production, but keep secret • 1789: Samuel Slater arrives in U.S., having memorized plan for water-powered spinning machine  builds a mill in Pawtucket, RI • 1807-12: Domestic production stimulated by Embargo Act and later import-restricting policies • 1815: U.S. textile mills number in hundreds

  2. 9. What is the “Lowell System”? From where does it derive its name? What are its chief features? • Birth of System • 1813: Establishment of Boston Manufacturing Company (by Boston Associates) • First factory to combine spinning and weaving by power machinery under the same roof • 1822: BA build water-powered plant in village along Merrimack River, which they rename Lowell • Chief Features • Lowell factory provides model for other mill towns • Want to design model factory communities in countryside • Mostly young women from NE farm families (dexterity + less pay)

  3. 10. How is the Lowell System intended to disprove Jefferson’s belief that factories would corrupt the republic? What are the signs that the Lowell System abandons this intention as manufacturing develops? • Mill owners promise that “Lowell girls” will have manageable work, decent room and board, moral discipline, educational/cultural opportunities • Initially works – factories feature matronly supervisors, church attendance, lecture halls, and libraries • Mushroom growth  deterioration of conditions • 1840: 32 Lowell mills/factories in operation  now industrial cities • Smoke, noise, stench of surroundings • Textile prices and mill wages drop  manager/worker relations decline • New owners stress efficiency and profit margin over community values

  4. 11. What do major cities in the antebellum era have in common? • Growth of cities results from growth of commerce and industry • Four Atlantic seaports (NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston) remain largest cities • 1860: NYC first city to reach population of 1 million • NOLA grows as a result of access to Gulf of Mexico (but b/c it mostly exports, does not develop as fast) • Other growing cities near waterways: Pittsburgh (iron), Cincinatti (meatpacking), Louisville, Chicago, St. Louis

  5. 12. What factors influence the rate of immigration into the U.S. in the first half of the nineteenth century? • Economic opportunity • Abundant land for farming • Abundant jobs for urban employment • Arrivals’ reports home continue America’s reputation as idyllic center for freedom and opportunity • French Revolution + Napoleonic Wars restrict travel from Europe until 1815 • Rate of immigration rises afterward, especially after 1845 • 1845-54: Greatest influx of immigrants • 1860: 13% of American population (of 31 mil.) is first-generation immigrant

  6. 13. What are the ethnic populations migrating to the U.S. during this time? Identifying characteristics? • Irish (1.6 million) • Leave b/c prolonged depression social hardship (e.g. potato famine) • Almost evenly divided by gender • Mostly tenant farmers with little money/interest in farmwork • Work in America on construction crews, other manufacturing; women work in textile mills or service industries • Stay out of South because land is expensive and labor opportunities are minimal (with slavery) • Poor  congest Eastern cities • Form powerful voting blocs: identify with Democrats • Stimulate growth of Catholic Church in America

  7. 13. What are the ethnic populations migrating to the U.S. during this time? Identifying characteristics? • Germans (1.2 million) • Includes more professionals, independent farmers, skilled workers • More men than women • Diversity of political opinions and religious affiliations • Settle more in rural areas than in cities • Migrated in families rather than individually • Also British, Scandinavians (move to WI and MN), and Chinese (move to CA, work in construction)

  8. 14. What is nativism? What are its causes? What forms does nativism take? • Nativism: anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic feeling • Protestants fear “Papist plot” of Irish turning America into a Catholic nation • Ethnic prejudice: in some cases Irish denied employment • Establishment of groups that claim to demonstrate patriotism by hating foreigners and Catholics • American (“Know Nothing”) Party becomes third political party, would never vote for foreign/Catholic candidate • 1854: Know-Nothings win seats in local/state elections and forty seats in House of Representatives, but movement dies down as slavery increasingly becomes main issue

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