The Market Revolution

Changes in the Land

Focus Question“All was expectancy. Changes were coming.

Things were going to happen, nobody could guess what.”

Lucy LarcomA New England Girlhood

What mood does Larcom seem to have as she made this comment? What sort of changes might she see?

The Market Revolution• Transformative era in society• Moved from a producer to a consumer culture

Producer Culture• Property = virtue and independence• Goods produced locally

o Most prepared in the homeo Whatever could not be found in the home,

found locally• Transactions completed through barter.

ClothingClothing took a great deal

of time to make1. Starts with sheering the

wool, then carding it

ClothingClothing took a great deal

of time to make1. Starts with sheering the

wool, then carding it

Clothing2. Then the “slivers” are spun

into thread

Clothing3. Cloth is woven at

the loom

4. The end result is cloth

Producer Culture• Life revolved about the farm

o In towns, all farmed.o Any other tasks done as a

side-line• People scorned debt• Favored cooperation• Cash was rare

Consumer Culture• People begin purchasing factory made products• Sought uniformity• Craved the standard of living from the city

Industrial Change• Began with the textile industry• Factories sprouted in New England• Swift moving rivers powered mills

Consumer Culture• Separation of work and home

o Old systems faded away (Putting Out System)• Devaluation of women’s labor

o Textile mills turned to farm girls to provide labor

o “Lowell System”• Increased the role of competition in society

• Increased debt to finance expansion• Increased use of money in transactions

Sparked several revolutions

• Transportation• Communications• Technological• Cultural

Sparked Reaction• What direction was the country headed?• What changes were made in society?• What changes were made in the family?• Was this an improvement?