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.

Outlines

00:00

📈 The Market Revolution: Key Changes in Transportation, Farming, and Production

The Market Revolution refers to a transformative period in American history, involving major changes in transportation, agriculture, and production methods. Key developments included the rise of canals (e.g., Erie Canal), roads (Cumberland Road), and new transportation like steamboats and railroads. Farming shifted from subsistence to cash crops, with goods increasingly produced in factories rather than homes. These innovations occurred during antebellum America, the period before the Civil War. Notable inventions like Eli Whitney’s cotton gin and interchangeable parts, along with the McCormick Reaper, revolutionized agriculture and manufacturing, while communication improved with the invention of the telegraph.

05:02

🏗️ Government Involvement in Infrastructure and Regional Development

State and federal governments played a significant role in funding infrastructure projects, depending on whether the projects benefited a single state or multiple states. The Erie Canal, funded entirely by New York State, is an example of intrastate development, while the Cumberland Road exemplifies interstate cooperation. The North and Midwest regions benefited more from infrastructure improvements, strengthening their economic ties. Meanwhile, the South remained focused on cotton production and saw less development. This period also marked the rise of corporations and factories, where men and women worked outside their homes, creating new social dynamics and regional trade patterns.

Keywords

💡Market Revolution

The Market Revolution refers to a period of economic transformation in the United States during the early 19th century, characterized by innovations in transportation, farming, and production. It marked a shift from a subsistence economy to a market economy. The video script mentions the development of canals, roads, steamboats, and railroads, which facilitated trade and commerce, contributing to the revolution.

💡Erie Canal

The Erie Canal is a 363-mile-long waterway that connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River in New York. It was a significant development during the Market Revolution, as it allowed for the transportation of goods from the Midwest to the East Coast, exemplifying the improvements in transportation infrastructure discussed in the video.

💡Steamboats

Steamboats, popularized by Robert Fulton, were an innovation in water transportation during the Market Revolution. They allowed for the efficient movement of goods and people along rivers, which is highlighted in the video script as a key component of the transportation revolution.

💡Subsistence to Cash Crop Farming

The transition from subsistence to cash crop farming is a pivotal change mentioned in the script, where farmers shifted from growing food primarily for personal consumption to growing crops for sale in a market economy. This change reflects the broader economic shift towards market-driven agriculture.

💡Textiles

Textiles are a significant example of the shift in production from homes to factories, as mentioned in the video. The production of textiles moved outside the home to factories, which was a hallmark of the industrialization during the Market Revolution.

💡Cotton Gin

The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, is highlighted in the script as a key agricultural innovation that increased the efficiency of cotton processing. Despite Whitney's intention to reduce reliance on slavery, the invention paradoxically contributed to the expansion of slavery in the South due to increased cotton production.

💡Interchangeable Parts

Interchangeable parts, another innovation attributed to Eli Whitney, standardized manufacturing processes. This concept allowed for the easy replacement of broken parts, streamlining production and reducing costs, as explained in the video script.

💡Telegraph

The telegraph revolutionized communication by allowing the transmission of messages over long distances almost instantaneously. As discussed in the video, it played a crucial role in the Market Revolution by facilitating faster communication between different regions.

💡Corporations

Corporations emerged during the Market Revolution as a new form of business organization. The video script explains that they were formed by obtaining a charter and allowed for the selling of stock, which led to the pooling of capital and the rise of factories.

💡Lowell Factory System

The Lowell Factory System is an example of early industrialization mentioned in the script. Young, single women worked in these factories, often saving money before returning home or getting married. It illustrates the shift of labor from farms to factories and the changing roles of women in the workforce.

💡Cult of Domesticity

The Cult of Domesticity was a cultural ideal that emphasized the role of middle-class women as homemakers and mothers. As described in the video, it contrasted with the reality of working-class women who had to work outside the home. This concept reflects the changing gender roles and expectations during the Market Revolution.

Highlights

The Market Revolution involved changes in transportation, farming, and production of goods, shifting the U.S. economy significantly.

Increased use of canals, roads, steamboats, and railroads improved transportation, connecting regions and enhancing trade.

Subsistence farming gave way to cash crop farming, with more farmers growing food to sell rather than for personal sustenance.

Goods, especially textiles, were increasingly produced outside the home, often in factories, marking a shift toward industrialization.

Key transportation innovations included the Erie Canal, Cumberland Road, and the steamboat, popularized by Robert Fulton.

Eli Whitney's inventions, the cotton gin and interchangeable parts, revolutionized agriculture and manufacturing.

The cotton gin led to increased demand for slavery in the South, despite initial hopes of reducing it.

Agricultural innovations such as the steel plow and McCormick Reaper greatly increased farming efficiency in the Midwest.

Technological innovations like the telegraph improved communication across regions.

Government actions during the Market Revolution varied, with state and federal governments funding different infrastructure projects.

The South lagged behind the North and Midwest in infrastructure development, leading to economic disparities.

Corporations emerged, allowing companies to raise large amounts of capital through selling stock, and led to the rise of factories.

The Lowell Factory system employed young women from farms, offering them opportunities to earn money while living in boarding houses.

The Market Revolution contributed to the growth of a middle class, increased prosperity, and also led to a business elite and unequal wealth distribution.

The cult of domesticity emphasized traditional gender roles for middle-class women, focusing on raising families and avoiding political involvement.

Transcripts

what's going on a push peeps video

number 21 the market revolution you must

be familiar with this term great short

answer / essay topic especially if it's

a topic on the economy

alright so let's give a shout out to mr.

Pell's class thank you for your support

miss repeal your students oh you're a

great teacher and amazing at guitar too

so best of luck to you and your students

this year alright so the market

revolution it was a revolution in

transportation farming and production of

goods so we have a lot going on in this

definition we also have an increased use

of canals such as the Erie Canal here

which connects Albany to Buffalo roads

such as the National Road or Cumberland

Road and then you have steamboats and

railroads which are becoming popular

during this time too and we have a

switch from subsistence to cash crop

farming so more farmers are growing food

to sell not necessarily just to grow for

themselves to live off of goods were

produced increasingly outside the home

and this is especially true for textiles

the idea that Goods are no longer being

made in home at home they're being made

outside at places like factories and

this occurs prior to the Civil War in

that time period is called antebellum

America everybody Circle Antebellum for

me this means it is prior to the Civil

War okay so what are some innovations

during the market revolution well for

transportation we have roads as I

mentioned such as the Cumberland Road

canal such as the Erie Canal and the

steamboat popularized by Robert Fulton

pictured here for agricultural

improvements for farmers we have things

like the cotton gin invented by Eli

Whitney the goal of this was to separate

cotton at a much faster rate from its

seeds and he actually envisioned that

this would decrease the need for slavery

but unfortunately this is going to make

slavery that much more significant in

the south the steel plow will benefit

the met Midwest where farmers could

break the soil and grow more food and

the McCormick Reaper will be used to

increased harvesting efficiency they

will get the crops out of the ground at

a faster

technological innovations include

interchangeable parts again by Eli

Whitney think of cookie-cutter parts

that are identical so if a part breaks

on a good you can just easily replace it

as opposed to going back to the

blacksmith and having that person make

you a new part and the Telegraph which

will increase communication between

areas okay so some government actions

during the market revolution well state

and federal governments would often help

fund roads canals and railroads but it

mattered what type it was and where the

funding would come from so the Erie

Canal was paid entirely by New York

State because it is solely in New York

State that is an example of intra int

are a state trade that means it's within

a state so if a construction project

only benefits one state oftentimes that

state would pay for if it benefited

multiple states

that would be paid by the federal

government the Cumberland Road connects

many different areas of the country and

that's an example of interstate trade

often the north and Midwest were more

closely linked together than the south

with its large plantations the south was

really kind of left behind with these

infrastructure projects each region

became more reliant on each other and

traded more with each other in the

Midwest places like Cincinnati develop

they're gonna focus on pigs in

particular and the nickname for the city

will be porkopolis so they will grow

pigs and really ship it throughout the

country the south is going to focus on

cotton and then send that cotton to the

north and textile factories and the

north will focus on manufacturing goods

and we will have trade between these

three regions but because infrastructure

was built up more in the Midwest and the

north we'll see them benefit more than

the South does so talk about

corporations and the emergence of them

these are when companies form a charter

by paying a fee and the owners are not

liable for the losses of the company

they would just lose their investment so

if you buy stock in a company you are an

owner of the company but you're not

liable for what the company does you're

just liable for the money you invest it

and this led to the selling of stock and

Panisse could raise large amounts of

cash by selling portions of their

company

this will help lead to the emergence of

factories where men and women began to

work outside the home in factories in

large numbers you see cities popping up

around factories they're no longer

reliant on sub semi subsistence farming

because so many farm goods are being

produced especially in the Midwest

textile mills were often located near

water and these goods were often traded

to distant markets as specifically in

Europe it's not just the u.s. are

trading goods with but also Europe make

sure you know that phrase distant

markets okay so an example of a factory

system is the Lowell Factory in

Massachusetts this is where farmers

daughters would work in the Lowell

factory system so if you're a farmer and

you have a young daughter you may be

working on the farm all day but your

daughter would go and work at the Lowell

factory for a couple years these are

often young late teens early 20s single

women and here are a couple pictured

here they would work for a short time

couple years and they would save money

at which point that many of them would

either get married or moved back home

but they would be able to have some cash

from working those couple years so life

outlaw was very organised women lived in

boarding houses when they weren't

working they were maintained by their

owners and the workers had a curfew and

they were required to attend church so

there were strict guidelines for women

to follow while they were working

outside the home and they often did the

same tasks over and over in the factory

so they would have one simple job and

they would do that over and over so

where the impacts of the market

revolution in manufacturing well we have

a growing middle class an increase in

prosperity and standard of living for a

good portion of the population so we

have a growing middle class people are

getting wealthier and a lot of people

see their prosperity increasing we also

have an emergence of a business elite

these factory owners in these managers

of factories become very wealthy that

will help lead to an unequal

distribution of wealth where we still

have a lot of poor workers and a large

portion of the population still remain

poor whether there are poor farmers or

poor workers in a factory so let's talk

about gender and family roles

poor family stopped farming and moved to

cities and to work in factories you

would see children as young as six to

eight working new factories alongside

their parents so if they were too poor

to afford a farm they would pack up

their whole family and move to work in a

factory married middle-class women were

not expected to work outside the home so

if you were married to your expectation

if your middle-class was to stay in the

home and raise your family that is an

example of the cult of domesticity

here's a book that helped her reinforce

it this magazine it was called Gatti's

ladies book which reinforced this notion

of the cult of domesticity so everybody

circle and star cult of domesticity for

me please this is the idea that upper

middle class women were expected to

focus on their families and instilling

American virtues and their children they

were not expected to work outside the

home they were not expected to be

involved in politics they were expected

to take care of the house and live in a

separate sphere from men so they would

join voluntary clubs and organizations

we'll talk about that in a future video

in which women will join organizations

to protest slavery and alcohol and women

would often stay out of politics and

they would just focus on domestic issues

at least that was the expectation under

the cult of domesticity if women did

work there options would be limited to

professions such as nursing and teaching

things that were seen as feminine during

that time what was the market revolution

know some impacts on the economy

transportation systems and gender and

family roles very important that gender

and family roles aspect and innovations

during the market revolution be able to

identify several of them alright guys

thanks for watching look forward to see

you back here for video number 22 best

of luck this year and have a good day