Overview of Early Industrialization

1. Society in the new century
Factories at Lowell, Massachusetts

2. Main Points
I. The Market Economy
II. Early Industrialization
III. Transportation
IV. Communication
V. Urbanization

3. I. American Economy
• Growth of market economy
– influence of embargo
– government activity in the economy
• protective tariff
• internal improvements.

4. II. Industrialization
1793 Eli Whitney invents cotton gin
1810-20 Cotton boom starts
1820 Lowell established
• Eli Whitney
– cotton gin
– interchangeable parts
– revolutionizes mechanization and industry

5. Expansion
of slavery

6. II. Industrialization
• Lowell, Massachusetts
– First employees
– first industrial city
– problems of industrialization.

7. Factories and
workers in 1839

8. III. Transportation Revolution
• Turnpikes
• Stage coaches
• Canals
• Steamboats
• Railroads.

9. Cumberland (National) Road and
Main Connections

10. Erie Canal
• Built 1818-1825
• 363 miles long; total cost $7,143,000
• Links midwest farms with NYC
• success begins canal building boom.

11. Erie Canal and Main Branches

12. Principal Canals in 1840

13. Steamboats
• 1811 first
steamship
• use in west
• impact on
commerce.

14. Railroads
1830 100 miles
1840 3,500 miles
1860 30,600 miles
• No national network
• Dangerous travel
– Cow catcher, weak
brakes, curves,
smokestack & fires

15. IV
Communication
Revolution
• Railroads alter life
– communication
– time
– commerce
• Telegraph - 1844

16. Travel Times

17. Travel Times

18. V. Urbanization
• Nation becomes less farmer centered
– 15:1 (1800) to Population Density 1820
1860
5.5:1 (1850)
• Population
density
increases
• Growth of
cities
• Growth of
middle class.

19. Population Increase, Including Slaves
and Indians, 1790-1860