Lesson 1
How did the use of interchangeable parts contribute to the Industrial Revolution?
It made factories more efficient and profitable.
What key role did capitalists play in the Industrial Revolution?
They supplied money that mill and factory owners needed.
Why did you think the members of the Know-Nothing party answered as they did?
They wanted to keep their activities a secret.
How did the construction of large railroad networks contribute to urban growth?
It made migrating to cities easier.
How would a scarcity of natural resources affect the supply of goods in a market?
A scarcity of natural resources would decrease the supply of goods.
What "push" factors caused Irish and Germans to leave their homelands for the United States of America?
Irish and Germans faced food shortage, famine, and political troubles.
Why did skilled African Americans have trouble finding jobs in the North?
The whites refused to hire or work alongside African Americans.
How did competition and the quest for profit change working conditions in American Mills?
As competition increased, mill owners had less concern for the well-being of their workers, and working conditions declined.
How did the invention of new farm machines contribute to urbanization in the North?
The new farm machines meant fewer workers were needed on the farms. Many of the workers left to seek employment in northern cities.
Why could artisans demand higher wages while other workers could not?
Artisans had special skills that factory owners needed and that could not be easily replaced.
Why were artisans the first to organize trade unions and launch strikes?
Artisans could afford to confront factory owners because their skills were prized.
How did transportation boost the market revolution in the early 1800s?
New roads, canals, and steamboats allowed for more efficient production and transportation of goods, expanding opportunities for commerce.
Water power depended on factories being located near streams, but steam power could be used anywhere.
Nativists formed the Know-Nothing party, which expressed it's members anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic feelings.
What were some drawbacks of urbanization?
Early cities lacked sewers and solid pavements. People threw garbage onto the streets. As cities grew, diseases spread and pollution from burning coal damaged people's health.
How did schools and churches help strengthen African American communities?
Schools gave African Americans the skills they needed to find good jobs. Churches offered a place for African Americans to be together and feel part of the community.