APUSH Review: Video #21: The Market Revolution And Its Impacts

Summary

This video covers the Market Revolution, emphasizing key transformations in transportation, agriculture, and production in antebellum America. Innovations such as canals, steamboats, railroads, the cotton gin, and interchangeable parts fueled growth. It highlights the shift from subsistence to cash crop farming and the emergence of factories, creating a growing middle class and an unequal distribution of wealth. The video also discusses changes in gender and family roles, including the cult of domesticity and the limited career opportunities for women. These developments profoundly impacted the U.S. economy and society before the Civil War.

Takeaways

• 🚂 The Market Revolution involved major changes in transportation, farming, and production, with key innovations like canals, roads, and railroads.
• 🌽 Farmers shifted from subsistence farming to cash crop farming, growing goods for sale rather than just for personal use.
• 🏭 Goods began to be produced outside of homes, especially textiles, marking a shift towards factory-based production.
• 💡 Key inventions like the cotton gin by Eli Whitney, the steel plow, and the McCormick Reaper revolutionized agriculture and production.
• 📞 Innovations such as the Telegraph and interchangeable parts, also by Eli Whitney, enhanced communication and manufacturing efficiency.
• 💼 Corporations emerged, allowing companies to sell stock and raise capital, leading to the growth of factories and large-scale production.
• 🌍 The North and Midwest benefited from improved infrastructure, while the South lagged behind due to its reliance on plantations and cotton farming.
• 👩‍🏭 The Lowell Factory system employed young women from farming families, offering them temporary factory jobs and a structured lifestyle.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 The Market Revolution led to the rise of a middle class and a business elite, but also deepened wealth inequality between the rich and poor.
• 🏡 Gender roles during this time became more rigid, with middle-class women expected to stay home under the 'cult of domesticity' while poor families, including children, worked in factories.

Q & A

What was the Market Revolution and why is it significant?

The Market Revolution was a major transformation in the U.S. economy during the early 19th century, characterized by advances in transportation, agriculture, and production. It led to a shift from subsistence farming to cash crop farming and from home-based production to factory-based production, significantly changing the economic landscape of the nation.

What role did transportation innovations play during the Market Revolution?

Transportation innovations such as roads (e.g., the Cumberland Road), canals (e.g., the Erie Canal), steamboats, and railroads were crucial during the Market Revolution. They facilitated the movement of goods and people, connected different regions, and helped spur economic growth by improving trade and communication.

How did the cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, impact slavery in the South?

Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin was intended to reduce the need for slave labor by speeding up the process of separating cotton fibers from seeds. However, it had the opposite effect, making cotton production more profitable and increasing the demand for slaves in the South to keep up with the booming cotton industry.

What is the significance of interchangeable parts during the Market Revolution?

Interchangeable parts, introduced by Eli Whitney, allowed for mass production of goods with parts that could easily be replaced if broken. This innovation was crucial for the development of factories and manufacturing, as it simplified the production process and reduced costs.

How did the Market Revolution affect the different regions of the United States?

The North and Midwest were more closely linked through infrastructure projects like roads and canals, which benefited their economies. The South, focusing on cotton production, lagged behind in industrial and infrastructural development. Each region became increasingly specialized and dependent on the others for goods and resources.

What is the significance of the Lowell Factory in Massachusetts during the Market Revolution?

The Lowell Factory was a notable example of the factory system during the Market Revolution. It employed young women, often farmers' daughters, who worked in textile mills. These women lived in boarding houses, followed strict rules, and saved money to either marry or return home, marking a shift in gender roles and labor practices.

What was the ‘cult of domesticity,’ and how did it affect gender roles during the Market Revolution?

The ‘cult of domesticity’ was the belief that middle-class women should focus on domestic responsibilities, raising children, and instilling values in them rather than working outside the home. It reinforced traditional gender roles, limiting women’s opportunities to professions like nursing or teaching, considered ‘feminine’ jobs at the time.

How did corporations and the selling of stock emerge during the Market Revolution?

Corporations emerged as companies began forming charters by paying fees. Owners were not personally liable for company losses, only for their investment. This led to the selling of stock, allowing businesses to raise large amounts of cash, which fueled the growth of factories and the industrial economy.

What were some of the impacts of the Market Revolution on the social class structure?

The Market Revolution led to the growth of a middle class and an increase in prosperity for many people. However, it also widened the gap between the wealthy factory owners, who formed a business elite, and the poor workers, many of whom remained in poverty despite economic growth.

How did the Market Revolution influence family dynamics and child labor?

As poor families moved from farms to cities to work in factories, entire families, including children as young as six, worked in factories alongside their parents. This shift in family dynamics, where children contributed to the household income, reflected the economic pressures of the time.