Growing pains: the US before the Civil War

Essential questions:

What are some factors that led to the rapid growth of cities and growing sectionalism in the United States from 1800-1850?

How did immigration affect the economic growth of the new nation?

In what ways did industrialism shape the economic growth of the US?

How was economic growth distributed throughout the nation?

Writing prompt

Answer each of the following questions in two to three sentences. You’ll have a bit of time to work on this, so make sure you’re answering them completely.

How did your family arrive in the United States? What were the reasons they came to the US?

Did they move to a city or the country? Why?

What are the factors that drive immigration today?

Chickens and eggs – immigration and industrial development

The US undergoes rapid economic growth in the period following independence.

A rise in canals, steam powered engines, factories, and more efficient means of production leads to increased demand for low skill workers.

In the North we see a rise in factories, mills, and industrialism.

In the South, agriculture continues to dominate and becomes even more efficient, leading to a booming market in the Southern and Western states.

Competing Economic Visions

Jeffersonian Vision Self-sufficient farms

Small rural mills for those unable to contribute to manual labor

Considers factories the “dark, satanic mills” of Europe

Fought against industrial revolution; believed farming was the basis of the American dream.

Hamiltonian Vision Rise in industrialism would bring

about social change and raise the status of all Americans.

Industry may employ families as well – children, wives, idle family members.

Industrialized society is the only way the US can compete in international economy.

What does Hamilton’s vision look like?

Industrial Revolution begins in Great Britain in the 1700’s – quickly moves to American soil with the development of large mills and factories.

Francis Cabot Lowell opens a mill in Waltham, MA in 1811 that employs young New England women.

Places like Birmingham, England have already been transformed by manufacturing.

Hamilton’s Report on Manufactures (1791)

What are the arguments that Hamilton makes?

How does he support these arguments?

How do his arguments compare to those of Thomas Jefferson

What does Hamilton’s America look like?

A Description of Factory Life in Lowell, MA - 1846

Answer the following questions on a sheet of paper. Create a schedule of the work day at Lowell.

What is the relationship between the women of the Lowell factory and their work?

In what ways is life at the factory a fulfillment of Hamilton’s vision for the American economy? In what ways might it be considered a departure?

Particular encouragements of particular manufactures may be of a nature to sacrifice the interests of landholders to those of manufacturers; but it is nevertheless a maxim well established by experience, and generally acknowledged, where there has been sufficient experience, that the aggregate prosperity of manufactures, and the aggregate prosperity of agriculture are intimately connected. In the course of discussion which has had place, various weighty considerations have been adduced operating in support of that maxim. Perhaps the superior steadiness of the demand of a domestic market for the surplus produce of the soil, is alone a convincing argument of its truth.

The Era of Good Feelings(?)

The New Era

Democratic-Republicans are virtually the only party in American politics.

James Monroe receives all but one electoral vote in his reelection bid of 1820.

Tariff of 1816 signals a marked shift in D-R’s political platform. Once supported agriculture and free trade – now support manufacturing, industry, and workers. Receives southern support.

The American System: Three Components

A tariff to protect American industry

A national bank

Federal subsidies for canals, transportation, and other internal improvements.

Monroe goes on nationwide “Great Goodwill” tour and is embraced by New England Federalists, still smarting from the Hartford Convention.

The American System

Tariff – Bank – Internal Improvements

Internal improvements would be funded by money raised off the Tariff – a 20-25% tax on foreign imported goods.

Money would be distributed via the National Bank.

Forwarded by former Federalists: John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun

Henry Clay calls for support based on the exchange between Western farmers and Northern industrialists and between Southern farmers and Northern manufacturers.

Based on ideas of Alexander Hamilton

Results

Economic interdependence leads to Boom-Bust Cycles

Three “panics” will occur: 1819, 1837, 1857.

We’ll discuss the Missouri Compromise tomorrow.

Tariffs

High tariffs

Tariff of 1816: First tariff passed to protect US manufacturing from foreign competition. Has the support of the South.