Download US History Examining the Early Industrial Revolution: Isolation

US History
Examining the Early Industrial Revolution:
Isolation Makes the
Economy Grow Stronger
The Embargo Act of 1807 and the British Blockade (1812-1814) both made it impossible for
American merchants to import goods from or export goods to other countries. Initially, both the
Embargo Act and the British Blockade hurt the American economy. Americans who depended on
goods from foreign countries could not get them. American merchants who relied on foreign
customers had no one to buy their products. Overtime, however, the trade embargos actually
strengthened the U.S. economy. Creative Americans developed methods of producing products that
the U.S. had previously imported from other countries. America was becoming more independent
and less reliant on foreign countries. The economic isolation brought about by the War of 1812,
planted the seeds for the first Industrial Revolution in the United States.
Summarize this paragraph in 11 words or less: _______________________________________________
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Most historians agree that the first Industrial Revolution took place in the United States
between 1812 and 1870. During this period of time, the economy of the United States grew rapidly.
There were an unprecedented number of new inventions patented by Americans. These inventions
made life (and business) easier for Americans and helped the economy to grow. The period is marked
by great improvements to the country’s infrastructure (transportation and communication systems).
Summarize this paragraph in 12 words or less: _______________________________________________
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What Life Was Like B.I.R. (Before the Industrial Revolution)…
The economy of the United States experienced great change as a result
of the Industrial Revolution. Prior to this time, only skilled laborers
manufactured goods. For example, only trained blacksmiths made metal
products and only trained seamstresses made clothing. Additionally, most
products were made in people’s homes (not in large factories). It took a very
long time to make a single product because each was individually made (“one
of a kind”). People were paid only after they finished making a product (there
were no hourly wages back then). Finally, most people were self-employed
(most Americans did not have a “boss” who they answered to).
Summarize this paragraph in 9 words or less: _________________________________________
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Industrialization Brings Big Changes to America
The isolation created by the trade embargos forced Americans to change the
economy in substantial ways. The factory system, introduced to the U.S. by Samuel
Slater, brought many different workers together under one roof. Factories were often
built next to powerful rivers. The rivers were used as a source of power for the
machines located in the factory. For the first time many Americans gathered in one
building to do the same type of work. They worked for wages (hourly pay) and had a
set schedule. This enabled factory owners to produce more goods at a faster pace.
Summarize this paragraph in 10 words or less: ______________________________________________
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The system of interchangeable parts, introduced to the United States by Eli Whitney, made
the factory system even more profitable. Whitney proposed making products that were all made
from similar parts. Products would no longer be one of a kind. This made production of goods
much faster and more efficient. It also made repairing broken goods much easier. Additionally, this
allowed unskilled laborers to work in factories for the first time. Workers simply needed to know
how to run the machine that was making the product. This increased employment in the U.S. and
helped the economy to grow. The use of interchangeable parts may not have been so widespread if
not for the economic isolation created by the trade embargos.
Summarize this paragraph in 10 words or less: ______________________________________________
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A Look at More Practical Inventions
Most of the early inventions of the Industrial Revolution helped to improve the production
of goods. However, many inventions also resulted in actual new goods too. Some of the new goods
invented helped to improve the agricultural industry. John Deere invented a lightweight steel plow.
Theses plows worked much better in the fertile soil of the south and west than the old cast-iron plows
that had been used for tilling New England soil. Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper.
McCormick’s inventions made it easier to harvest grain. Both of these inventions helped to improve
the economy of the growing southern and western states.
Robert Fulton and Samuel Morse both made important improvements in the fields of
transportation and communication. Fulton invented the first steam powered boat (later improved
upon by Henry Miller Shreve). Merchants no longer had to rely on water and wind currents to move
their goods along the nation’s rivers. Morse invented the first telegraph. This allowed people to
communicate with each other more quickly. They no longer had to rely on the post office as the only
means of communication.
Summarize these paragraphs in 10 words or less: ____________________________________________
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Name:
Date:
Core:
U.S. History
A Look at the Industrial Revolution:
Reflection Questions…
Fact Check…
1. What was the Industrial Revolution? _______________________________________________
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2. Define the term “iinfrastructure”: __________________________________________________
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3. Identify three ways that life in America changed as a result of the Industrial Revolution.
a. _______________________________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________________________
c. _______________________________________________________________
4. Briefly describe the “ffactory system”: _______________________________________________
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5. Why were most factories found in the north (think about the physical geography of the
region)? _______________________________________________________________________
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6. True or False. The inventions of John Deere and Cyrus McCormick benefited the west and
south more than they did the north.
I think that this statement is ____________________ (true or false) because: ______________
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7. Briefly describe how the inventions of Robert Fulton and Samuel Morse brought the nation
closer together. _________________________________________________________________
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Reader Response…
Which of the inventions described in the text is the most important in American History? Be
sure to identify the qualities of an important invention (see class notes) in your answer. ATIC
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Structuring Your Response
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A(nswer) the question: The most important
invention described in the text is ______
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because:
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T1(ext) evidence: Identify some aspect of the
invention, described in the text, that helped
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you to select that invention as the most
important
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I(nference): Explain why the invention is so
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important. Refer to the qualities of an
important invention we discussed in class and
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how the invention you selected meets that
criteria
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C(onclusion): summarize your argument in
one sentence
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Insightful, well
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Deep understanding of
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Specific references to all
article is used to support
ideas
Deep interpretation
(qualities of a good
invention) that is fully
explained
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Thoughtful, organized,
and fluent
Clear understanding of
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Fairly specific references
to article are used to
support ideas
Clear interpretation (
qualities of a good
invention ) that is wellexplained
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Organized and
somewhat fluent
Basic understanding of
text is displayed
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examples from some
article are used to
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of a good invention )
that is partially explained
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Disorganized or confusing
Limited or no
understanding of text is
displayed
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Undeveloped response