The MARKET REVOLUTION in America—INDUSTRIALIZATION [APUSH Review Unit 4 Topic 5] Period 4: 1800-1848

Market Revolution Overview

Introduction to the Market Revolution

• The video introduces the Market Revolution, focusing on changes in technology, agriculture, and commerce during the first half of the 19th century.

• It defines the Market Revolution as the linking of northern industries with western and southern farms through advancements in various sectors.

• This revolution marked America's transition from an agrarian society to a capitalist one, integrating different regional economies into a singular entity.

Innovations in Transportation

• Reliable transportation was essential for trade; this need led to significant infrastructure developments.

• The National Road (Cumberland Road), stretching from Maryland to Illinois, was crucial for connecting states despite initial resistance to federal road projects.

• Canals were built to facilitate trade where rivers did not suffice; notably, the Erie Canal linked western farms with eastern manufacturing starting in 1825.

• The introduction of steamboats allowed for efficient upstream transport of goods, revolutionizing river trade by enabling two-way shipping.

• Railroads emerged as a dominant transportation method by the 1830s, supported by government loans and land grants for expansion.

Innovations in Industrial Technology

• New patent laws encouraged innovation; Eli Whitney's interchangeable parts significantly transformed manufacturing processes.

• Prior to this innovation, artisans crafted entire items individually. Interchangeable parts allowed for mass production and easier repairs.

• The factory system emerged in America during the 1820s due to these innovations, allowing unskilled laborers to produce goods efficiently.

Agricultural Innovations

• Eli Whitney also invented the cotton gin before his work on interchangeable parts; this sped up cotton processing dramatically.

Economic Interconnections in Early America

The Rise of Cash Crops

• Southern farmers primarily grew cash crops for trade, with cotton being the most significant due to its high demand from British textile factories.

• This boom in cash crops established economic links not only between American farms and local markets but also extended to distant international markets.

Increasing Economic Ties

• Technological advancements in transportation and industry contributed to a growing interconnectedness among different regions of America.