Chapter 9 questions
What role did immigrants play in the new market society?
A lack of jobs in Europe drove people to leave their countries, and a rising industry creating demand for jobs enticed people to come to America. Almost all immigrants worked as unskilled factory laborers, often overtaking Americans' roles because immigrants would accept lower pay.
How did the market economy and westward expansion intensify the institution of slavery?
As people moved West, so did cotton production, and thanks to the invention of the cotton gin, even more cotton could be produced. With population and industry increasing, the demand for cotton, and therefore its slave labor force, increased.
As it democratized American Christianity, the Second Great Awakening both took advantage of the market revolution and criticized its excesses. Explain.
Better communication and transportation made it easier for ministers to spread their messages, and they could reach more people or types of people, providing them better chances for success. Along the lines of the spirit of the market revolution, the message of the Second Awakening encouraged Americans to shape their own destinies. However, preachers disagreed with the promotion of greed and indifference to welfare of others that came with the market revolution.
Identify the major transportation improvements in this period and explain how they influenced the market economy.
Major transportation improvements include the invention of the steamboat and the building of canals, railroads, telegraph lines, turnpikes and other roads. Increase in speed, accessibility, and communication made goods easier and faster to transport, so prices went down and profits were higher.
How did changes in the law promote development in the economic system?
New laws prevented government interference, and also supported corporations because the helped economic growth. Corporate investors were not held accountable for company debt. Meanwhile, business owners were not held accountable for property damage (such as flooding). Laws began to fight against the creation of monopolies or trusts, and supported labor union strikes, but change came slowly.
How did westward expansion and the market revolution drive each other?
People looking to make a profit moved Westward to start their own farms, and once societies were settled, people who had already made a profit moved Westward to start businesses like law firms and banks. The products from the West helped drive the economy, including industrialization in the East.
How did state and local governments promote the national economy in this period?
State and local governments funded projects to build transportation routes like paved roads, canals, and railroads, which helped the economy by increasing trade. (ex: Erie Canal)
Give some examples of the rise of individualism in these years.
The Second Awakening encouraged Americans to forge their own unique spiritual path. The rise of businesses and industries provided more opportunity, or at least the hope of it, to become successful through one's own hard work. Americans began to think for themselves rather than following the crowd, expanding democracy as owning one's self rather than owning property made someone capable of voting.
How did the market revolution change women's work and family roles?
Women still held responsibility for domestic chores, though lower class women were paid to do so in professions like housekeeping, launderer, or seamstress. A marker of the emerging middle class was that women stayed at home and hired other women to do housework. Men were expected to make enough money to support their entire family, which only increased male authority in the household.
