Apush chapter 14 final/test

Samuel Slater and Eli Whitney caused the North and South to develop in opposite directions. Explain.

Samuel Slater created the factory system which the North used. Eli Whitney created the cotton gin which the South used. This led to the South to depend on cotton and become planters. The South became the King Cotton.

Explain the effects of division of labor on a national and personal basis.

The division of labor allowed for each region to specialize in one economic activity. The South raised cotton for New England and Britain. The West grew livestock and grain to feed workers in the East and Europe. The East made textiles and machines for the West and South. This division of labor led southerners to think they were a silver chain and the states would collapse without them.

Commonwealth v. Hunt

case in the Supreme Court of Massachusetts that ruled in the favor of the laborers; deemed labor unions legal as long as their methods were "honorable and peaceful"

Erie Canal

connected Lake Erie to the Hudson River; made transportation of goods and people easier and faster; helped immigrants settle the west

Elias Howe

inventor of the sewing machine, which revolutionize garment manufacture in the factory and in the home

Eli Whitney/Cotton Gin

inventor of this machine which separated cotton fibers from the cotton plants much faster than a slave could by hand as well as interchangable parts

Canal Age

result of the success of the Erie Canal; made transportation quicker, cheaper, and helped settle the west; the North began constructing canals

Samuel Slater

skilled British mechanic who became the "Father of the Factory System"; he established the first British-style textile mill in American; made the textile industry quicker and more profitable

Lowell/Waltham System

system in the New England textile industry in which "mill girls" worked long hours under harsh conditions and lived in boardinghouses with strict codes; proved unprofitable and declined

Nativism

the ideology that Native Americans should have more power in society than the immigrants from Ireland and Germany

To what extent was social mobility possible in the United States in the years before the Civil War?

After the war many American became prosperous. One of these successful men was John Jacob Astor, a fur trader and real estate speculator with an estate of $30 million. Social mobility was possible, but not as common as thought. However there was more opportunity than in the Old World.

How and why did American demographics change from 1820 to 1860?

Chicago became packed with people. These people resulted from high birthrates or Irish and German immigrants. These immigrants wrote America Letters to show the greatness of America. It was also shorter.

What factors led to increased productivity for farmers?

Corn was a versatile crop that was easy to grow. John Deere created the steel plow to break the soil. Cyrus McCormick created the mechanical mower-reaper allowing one man to do the work of five men. Eventually cash-crop agriculture dominated the West.

What types of work were done by women in Antebellum America?

In Antebellum America women worked on farms. They spun yarn, wove cloth, made candles, butter, soap, and cheese. Eventually they worked in factories. Lowell Mills was a textile factory that people were proud of. Catherine Beecher encourages women to become teachers. Women experienced the cult of domesticity which glorified the functions of the homemaker. Eventually the fertility rate dropped creating child centered homes. This was a part of domestic feminism.

After reading this section, does it seem logical or unbelievable that an Irish-American became president in 1960? Explain.

It seems logical. The Irish gained a lot of political party starting with the Molly Maguires, the miners' union. Eventually they controlled Tammany Hall while driving around paddy wagons. They also used twisting the British Lion's Tail to profit from the verbal volleys.

Why were immigrants from Germany and Ireland feared and hated?

Nativists feared that these immigrants would take their jobs and overwhelm them. Therefore nativists created the Order of the Star-Spangled Banner which later became the American Know-Nothing Party.

Which were more important in Antebellum America, new inventions or changes in business forms and legal status? Explain.

New inventions because it helped America grow. Eli Whitney created interchangeable parts. Isaac Singer perfected the sewing machine. Samuel F. B. Morse created the telegraph. With limited liability investors could only risk as much as their share allowed. With free incorporation laws business men could create corporations without getting individual charters from the legislature.

"The westward movement also molded the physical environment." Explain.

People began planting Kentucky Bluegrass after sugar cane because of its ideal pasture like qualities. The rendezvous system controlled thhe fur-trapping empire and eventually led to the near extinction of beavers, buffalos and bisons, and sea otters. This exploitation of the West's natural bounty was called ecological imperialism. George Catlin later proposed a national park in order to preserve America's beauty.

The Erie Canal brought revolutionary change to two regions. Explain.

The Erie Canal brought much prosperity to the area around which it stood. It was good for trading and such. It also affected New York City. Shipping costs were lowered and people switched jobs. Clinton, the governor, created this canal.

What barriers stood in the way of the industrial Revolution in the United States?

The Factory System and Industrial Revolution came slow to the United States. This is because people would ratherhave their own land and farm instead of working in a factory. This led to a shortage of workers. People also did not have enough money to start these businesses.

Why were turnpikes and steamboats important?

The Lancaster Turnpike and steamboats created by Robert Fulton provided better transportation. People were able to more effectively trade and travel from place to place. The National (Cumberland) Road also provided improved transportation.

The clipper ship, stagecoach and Pony Express ultimately failed because they were not forward looking. Explain.

The clipper ship, stagecoach, and Pony Express could not fit in with the times which were leaning more towards machines. The Trans-Atlantic cable created by Cyrus Field connected Europe and America. Clipper ships sacrificed cargos space for speed. However these sleek, elegant ships were outdone by the British steamers, "teakettles". Stagecoaches were depicted in Roughing It by Mark Twain. The Pony Express delivered mail.

Name some of the advantages and disadvantages of early railroads.

The railroads were faster, more reliable, and cheaper to build. They also did not freeze in winter. They could go through various terrains and weather. However, they had week breaks and different gauges. In addition they started fires with sparks and many accidents occurred.

What were settlers of the frontier like?

The settlers of the frontier lived poor lives. They had poor houses, little food, and vulnerability to disease. It was also very lonely. It was cruel. They were ill informed, superstitious, provincial, and individualistic. In addition they were self-reliant like in Emerson's "Self-Reliance".

What demands did labor have in the 1830's and 1840's?

Wage slaves worked long hard hours with little pay. Due to this many strikes were performed. However, employers used strikebreakers, or scabs, to control it. Eventually labor unions were no longer thought to be illegal conspiracies in the Commonwealth v. Hunt.

Did the Germans make as large a contribution to America as the Irish did? Explain.

Yes. They contributed great thinkers like Carl Schurz who affected American political life. They also contributed the Conestoga and public schools, like kindergarten. Beer was also brought by them creating drinking habits for America.

American Industrial Revolution

a sudden boom in industry with the rise of the factory system; machines replaced skilled workers; raised the demand for cheap labor in the North and slave labor in the South