Canals and early transportation
In what year was the Erie Canal completed, and how many miles long was it?
The Erie Canal was completed in 1825 and was 363 miles long.
Who invented the steamboat, and what advantage did it provide?
Robert Fulton invented the steamboat. It made round-trip shipping and travel faster and cheaper.
What invention did Eli Whitney create in 1793?
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793.
What was the main purpose of bringing workers together in a factory?
The main purpose was to make work more efficient by organizing workers and splitting up tasks.
Who did textile mills in Lowell recruit to work in their factories?
Textile mills in Lowell recruited young farm women.
How many miles of canals were built by 1840 east of the Mississippi River?
3,300 miles of canals were built by 1840.
What was the name of the nation's first railroad, and when was it built?
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the nation's first railroad, built in 1828.
What was Eli Whitney's second major contribution to American industry?
Eli Whitney devised a system of making rifles out of interchangeable parts, which became the basis for mass production methods in Northeastern factories.
Why did factories require standardized time?
Factories required standardized time so workers could coordinate their tasks and work schedules efficiently.
By the 1830s, what two groups of people were employed in factories as labor needs increased?
Children and immigrants were employed in factories as labor needs increased.
Name two ways that canals helped the American economy grow.
By what decade were railroads competing directly with canals?
By the 1830s, railroads were competing directly with canals.
How did the system of interchangeable parts change manufacturing?
The system of interchangeable parts made manufacturing more efficient by allowing standardized, identical parts to be produced and used in products, which enabled mass production.
How were early factories powered?
Early factories were powered by water power.
What region is referred to as "the Northwest" in the document, and what was its main economic activity?
The "Northwest" refers to today's Midwest. Its main economic activity was agriculture (growing corn and wheat).
Why did cities grow along the canals?
Cities grew along canals because canals made transportation easier and cheaper, so people and businesses were attracted to these locations for trade and travel
How many miles of railroad track existed in the United States by 1860?
There were 30,000 miles of railroad track in the United States by 1860.
What does "mass production" mean?
Mass production means making large quantities of identical products quickly and efficiently using standardized parts and methods.
Why did New England become the leading manufacturing center by the 1820s?
New England became the leading manufacturing center because it had abundant water supplies and good seaports.
How did the Northeast differ from the South in terms of economy and population?
The Northeast was mostly industrial with a large urban population that grew as workers moved to cities for factory jobs. The South was mostly agricultural with few factories or cities.
How did canals affect food prices in America?
Canals lowered transportation costs, which lowered food prices.
Why did railroads eventually become more popular than canals?
Railroads were faster, didn't freeze in winter like canals, could go more places, and were more efficient for shipping passengers and freight. (Accept any reasonable explanation based on the advantages of railroads over canals.)
How did selling stock help build factories, roads, canals, and railroads?
Selling stock raised capital (money) that could be used to build factories, roads, canals, and railroads.
What happened to factories after steam power was introduced in the 1840s?
After steam power was introduced, factories were no longer tied to locations with falling water (they could be built anywhere).
What is sectionalism, and why did it increase during this time period?
Sectionalism is loyalty to a region or section of the country instead of the country as a whole. It increased during this time period because the Northeast and South developed very different economies and ways of life (one industrial, one agricultural), which created different interests and values.