Bishop Social Studies - Chapter 14 Notes - Parts 1 and 2

Bishop Social Studies - Chapter 14 - Parts 1 and 2

Advancements in TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES in the 1800's caused shipping to become cheaper and more efficient.​

CANALS, STEAMBOATS, and CLIPPER SHIPS, were all water transportation methods that saw creation and use during the middle of the 1800’s​

The first steam-powered LOCOMOTIVES showed up in the United states in the 1830’s​

By 1840, the United States had almost 3,000 MILES of railroad tracks. By 1860? The distance had grown to 31,000 MILES​

The railroad networks had an incredible impact on the economy and transformed trade for both BUSINESSES and CONSUMERS​

The TELEGRAPH, a device that used electric signals to send messages, filled the need for faster communication to support faster travel and industry growth​

 Samuel Morse developed and implemented his MORSE CODE communication system in 1844, which allowed messages to be set in minutes over telegraph lines​

Using different arrangements of short and long signals, DOTS AND DASHES, to represent letters of the alphabet, Morse’ technology revolutionized communication​

By 1852, there were about 23,000 MILES of telegraph lines in the United States and hundreds of telegraph companies had been formed​

Due to the matted sod of the prairie land west of Ohio, many FARMERS were hesitant to move west, unsure if the land would make their move worthwhile​

Then, in 1837, JOHN DEERE developed the first STEEL-TIPPED PLOW, which allowed farmers to cut through the hard-packed prairie sod.​

The MECHANICAL REAPER, invented by Cyrus McCormick, made life much easier for grain farmers​

Before this invention, farmers had harvested grain with handheld cutting tools, but this machine greatly improved the profitability of WHEAT FARMING in the West​

With advancements in the factory system came WORSENING CONDITIONS for factory workers in the 1800’s​

LONG WORK DAYS, DANGEROUS MACHINERY, and HARSH TEMPERATURES all were normal parts of everyday factory life.​

CHILD LABOR LAWS were basically non-existent and it was very common for children as young as 5 or 6 to work 12 hours or more, 6 days a week.​

Many workers began to form TRADE UNIONS to improve their working conditions by negotiating with employers, and even utilizing STRIKES to gain leverage​

By the 1830’s, slavery had largely disappeared in the Northern states, but RACIAL PREJUDICE and DISCRIMINATION remained​

Very few African-Americans were given the right to vote, and even fewer enjoyed ECONOMIC SUCCESS, as most lived in poverty​

Populations of cities boomed due to increased immigration from Europe, from IRELAND AND GERMANY especially, to work in the factories​

Many of the immigrants experienced difficulties from NATIVISTS who resisted immigration.​

Nativists believed that immigration THREATENED THE FUTURE of “native”, American-born citizens (almost all of whom had parents or grandparents who had moved from Europe years prior).​