his 121 chapter 12 the dynamics of growth
TRANSCRIPT
The Dynamics of Growth
Chapter 12
Context
• Jacksonian political debate between ideals of democracy and laissez-faire economic policy and federalist nationalism and elitist tradition occurred in the context of profound changes in American social and economic life.
• Between 1815 and 1850• United States became a transcontinental power• Industrial Revolution in the North reshaped region’s economy and
propelled an unrelenting process of urbanization• West: Commercial agriculture based on surplus of corn, wheat, cattle• South: Cotton is king –expansion and entrenchment of slavery• Technology and transportation
• Contestogas• Canals• Steamboats• Railroads
Agriculture and the National Economy
• Cotton
• Farming the west
America, 8th EditionCopyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company
Population Density, 1820
America, 8th EditionCopyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company
Population Density, 1860
America, 8th EditionCopyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company
Transportation West, About 1840
Transportation, Communication, and the Market Revolution
• Railroads
• Ocean transportation
• The role of government
America, 8th EditionCopyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company
The Growth of Railroads, 1860
The Industrial Revolution
• Early textile manufactures
• American technology
• The Lowell system
Immigration
• The Irish• Prolonged depression in Ireland• Most densely populated country in Europe• Average age at death 19• 1850: Irish accounted for 43% of immigrant population in U.S.
• Industrial workers• Domestics• Roman Catholics• No Irish Need Apply
• The Germans and other immigrants• German Immigration in 1854 = 215,000• 1/3 Roman Catholic; 2/3 Protestant (mostly Lutheran)• Rural settlements; family immigration
• Farmers. Shopkeepers, skilled workers
• Other Immigrant groups• English• Scandinavia• Chinese
Immigration
• Nativism• Fear of immigrants• Fear of Roman Catholic takeover• Lyman Beecher
• Congregationalist minister• Anti-immigrant sermons• Violent riots in Cincinnati, Boston, Philadelphia
• American Party• Know-Nothings• Never vote for a foreign born or Roman Catholic Candidate• Mid-term Elections of 1854: swept legislatures in New England, New York and Maryland
• Exclusion of immigrants and Roman Catholics from holding elected office• Extension of naturalization period from 5 to 21 years
• Immigrant labor
Organized Labor
• Early unions• “Combination to raise wages” illegal• Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842)—forming a trade union is not illegal;
workers may strike if employer hires non-union labor
• Labor politics• Local• Workingmen’s parties• February 22, 1860 Shoemaker strike
• 25 towns in Massachusetts• 20,000 workers• Wage increased