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NATION BUILDING Expansion and Migration American perspective shifts from Europe to West after 1815 Land perceived as rich, unsettled Continent held in part by the English, Spanish, and Indians North America, 1819 Settlement to the Mississippi: Settlers Move In By 1840 over 1/3 of U.S. population lives west of the Appalachians Speculators sell land parcels to settlers on credit Settlers (squatters) immediately enter commercial farming to pay off debt Access to markets gained by network of market towns, regional centers The People and Culture of the Frontier West settled to escape overpopulation, rising land prices, worn-out soil Settlers bring culture with them Cooperation, strong community necessary for survival Land values rise rapidly in a few years Price rise encourages rootlessness as many sell out and move on A Revolution in Transportation Primitive land transportation in the East was offset by shipping via the coastal waterways After the War of 1812 political leaders recognized the need the need to improve the country’s transportation network Roads and Turnpikes Cumberland Road (Cumberland to Maryland to Wheeling, Virginia). Other roads include: 1. National Road (Baltimore to St. Louis) 2. Coastal Post Road (Portland to St. Augustine) 3. Wilderness Road (Richmond to Louisville) 4. Nashville Road (Richmond to Nashville) Often, the responsibility for building a road was passed from the state and federal government to private turnpike companies. Roads were useful but unprofitable. Steamboats Network of rivers encourage economic development Steamboats assumed a vital role along the Mississippi-Ohio River System Steamboats transport upriver after 1811 Upriver capabilities reduce costs Steamboat traffic stimulates Congress to establish safety regulations The Canal Boom Erie Canal first transportation link between East and West, 1825, connects the Hudson River with Lake Erie. Other canals include: 1. Wabash & Erie (Toledo to Evansville) 2. Miami & Erie (Toledo to Cincinnati) 3. Pennsylvania (Philadelphia to Pittsburgh) Canal cuts East-West transportation costs dramatically Erie canal stimulates commercial growth of New York City Emergence of a Market Economy The construction of roads and canals connecting distant communities helped expand the market economy. Canals cut shipping expenses for western farmers and eastern manufacturers. Steamboats on the rivers also reduced shipping costs and stimulated commercial agriculture. Distant and lucrative markets were now accessible. The Beginning of Commercial Agriculture Lower transportation costs mean greater income for the farmer Sale to distant markets involves farmers in a complex system of credit (borrowing from banks both state and BUS) Early Industrialism Rise in manufacturing after 1812 Americans search for of production to cut costs. Eli Whitney- Cotton Gin and Interchangeable parts Francis Cabot Lowell- textile machinery Textile industry leads development of factory system Manufacturing was biggest in New England because the regions rivers were ideal for water power mills Textile Mills in New England Samuel Slater Mills- carding (creating thread and spinning it into yarn) Lowell Mills- turned out finished fabric and employed 80% women (Lowell Girls) Textile industry leads development of factory system Manufacturing was biggest in New England because the regions rivers were ideal for water power mills The Lowell Mills The Lowell Mills attracted women from farms who wanted to make money. The worker’s (operatives) lives were regulated, living in boarding houses and observed a curfew. The Lowell girls worked under very harsh conditions. Windows were closed and air quality was bad. In 1834, women quit work to protest wage reductions. They continued to protest years later. Strikes were becoming more prevalent.