Ch. 14 Notes - American Pageant Chapter 14 PDF

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American Pageant Chapter 14...

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Kevin Hou

Chapter 14 Notes

11-14-17

The Westward Movement   

The West was seen as the most “American” part of the union. U.S. center of population slowly moved westwards. In reality, life was harsh out on the frontier. o Poorly fed, ill clad workers erected houses made of brush and sticks. o Victims of disease, depression, and early death. o There would be very little contact with other humans.  Concept of self-reliance, people became self-sufficient on the frontier.

Shaping the Western Landscape  

Pioneers often exhausted the agricultural ability of the land in the tobacco regions, leaving behind barren and rain gutted fields. American fur trappers moved westwards and relied on the rendezvous system. o Trappers would trap animals and get furs and at a set time and location, they would rendezvous with eastern traders and get manufactured goods.

The March of the Millions 

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American population was still doubling every 25 years by the mid- 19th century. o Not only were Americans very fertile, but waves of immigrants were bringing in fresh blood. o Europe was becoming too crowded. o By 1860, there were 33 states in the union. Rapid population boom had its undesirable by-products. o Smelly slums, inadequate policing, feeble street lighting, rats, impure water, and improper garbage disposal plagued American cities.

The Emerald Isle Moves West  

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Ireland struggled due to the potato famine in the mid 1840’s. Tens of thousands of Irish flocked the U.S. for sanctuary. o They were forced to live in slums and were scorned by established Americans. o Irish were desperate for jobs and depressed the overall wages that people got because so many people were willing to work for very little money. Irish and blacks shared the bottom rung of society’s hierarchy so they resented each other. o Eventually, the Irish began controlling political machines such as New York City’s Tammany Hall and found more success. American politicians had to appeal to the Irish. The Irish hated the British so American politicians frequently fired verbal volleys at London.

The German Forty-Eighters 

Between 1830-1860, there was also an influx of German immigrants.

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Chapter 14 Notes

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Many Germans were democratic liberals, fleeing Germany because of the failed democratic revolutions of 1848. o Were relentless enemies of slavery in the years before the Civil War. Unlike the Irish, the Germans were perceived much better than the Irish. They contributed a lot to American culture such as the Christmas tree and the Conestoga wagon.

Flare-ups of Antiforeignism 

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Influx of immigrants inflamed prejudices of American nativists. o Nativists feared the foreigners would outbreed, outvote, and overwhelm the old stock. Know-nothing party was founded in response to Catholic presence. o As the name suggests, there was a great around of secrecy surrounding this political party. Mass violence occasionally occurred. o Catholic covenant in Boston was burned by the mob. o Catholic schools were attacked. America was the most diverse country in the world. It was a wonder that ethnic or religious conflicts did not occur more often. o A major cause of this was that the U.S. economy was so robust that people did not fear losing too much to other groups. Everyone could take a fair share in the wealth.

Creeping Mechanization 

The U.S. took 10 years after Britain to begin mass production of textiles (beginning of industrial revolution). o There was plenty of land in the U.S. and many people did not want to work in a cooped-up factory when they could toil earth in fresh air. o Like many industrial revolutions in developing countries, the U.S. needed foreign capital.  This foreign capital came in the form of immigrants. The immigrants were willing to work in factories for very low wages.

Whitney Ends the Fiber Famine  

Eli Whitney builds first cotton gin in America in 1793. Almost overnight, cotton became a major cash crop. o South benefited directly while north benefited from textile industry.

Marvels in Manufacturing   

American manufacturing was spurred on by the embargo acts of the war of 1812. Telegraph, sowing machine, and other inventions popped up. Eli Whitney came up with the idea of interchangeable parts. 2

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o Became the basis of modern mass production. Limited Liability allowed investors to only risk their stake in the company. o LLC = Limited Liability Company

Workers and “Wage Slaves”   

Industrial revolution changed relationship between employee and employer. o Influx of employees in factories made the relationship less intimate. Workers were commonly exploited and came to be known as “wage slaves”. This gave rise to labor unions. o Labor unions were perceived as terrible forces of the mobocracy.

Women and the Economy   

Women participated in the mechanism of factory production. Cult of domesticity glorified the domestic functions of women. Similar to republican motherhood. During industrial revolution, fertility rate dropped significantly. o A result of domestic feminism – women having a greater say of what goes on at home.

Western Farmers Reap a Revolution in the Fields 

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Several agricultural advances allowed pioneers to tame the western frontier. o Steel plow could be pulled by horse instead of oxen and the McCormick reaper allowed for faster harvesting of grains. Produce floated along Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

Highways and Steamboats 

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Lancaster turnpike was founded in 1790’s. o Long, hard surfaced highway that cut through Pennsylvania. o Stimulated western development. Robert Fulton installed a powerful steam engine on a ferry and created the steam boat. o People could now defy wind, tide, and weather. Americas streams became 2-way travel mediums. These advances in transportation allowed more products to be transferred throughout the U.S, further advancing the U.S. economy.

Erie Canal     

Rise of steamboats resulted in a canal craze. New York dug the Erie canal. Cost of shipping 1-ton of grain fell from $100 to $5. Industry in New York blossomed and agriculture boomed in the old northwest. Steamboats littered the great lakes.

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Railroads were cheaper and more reliable than canals to construct. You could use them all year round.

Cables, Clippers, and Pony Riders  

Clipper ships were long, narrow and majestic. Shipped goods throughout the world. Pony Express was established in 1860 to carry mail. o Ultimately became outdated as the telegraph became popular.

The Market Revolution  

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Desire of the East to tap the west triggered the transportation revolution. Market Revolution completely changed America. o Greater mechanization and a more market oriented economy transformed the U.S. from collection of tiny workshops into a national network of industry and commerce. More and more Americans integrated into the new market economy and the once selfsufficient households transformed. The gap between the rich and poor widened significantly. o John Jacob Astor became first millionaire. He died in 1848 with a $30 million estate.

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