America A Narrative History Chapter 9

Front 1

When did the United States become a transcontinental power?

Back 1

Around the 1830s water transportation began to really boom opening up the United States to become a transcontinental power. When railroads emerged it opened up an even bigger market.

Front 2

What was the importance of the Erie Canal for the internal development?

Back 2

This development would have major economic

and political consequences, tying together the economies of the West and the

East while further isolating the Deep South

Front 3

How did the railroad gain supremacy over other forms of transportation?

Back 3

The railroad gained supremacy over other forms of transportation because

of its speed, carrying capacity, and reliability. Railroads made it possible to

transport people and freight faster, farther, and cheaper than ever before

Front 4

What was the advantage of the clipper ship over traditional merchant
vessels?

Back 4

They doubled the speed of the older

merchant ships. Long and lean, with taller masts and more sails, they cut

dashing figures during their brief but colorful career, which lasted less than

two decades

Front 5

How did the federal government support the construction of canals,
railroads, roads during the 1850s?

Back 5

In 1850, Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois and others prevailed upon

Congress to extend a major land grant to support a north–south rail line

connecting Chicago and Mobile, Alabama

Front 6

What triggered the communication revolution in the 1840s

Back 6

Innovations in

transportation also helped spark dramatic improvements in communications

By 1830 it was possible to “convey” Andrew Jackson’s inaugural address from Washington, D.C., to New York City in sixteen hours.

Front 7

What was the cotton gin? Who invented it? What changes did the cotton gin bring in manufacturing? What was the result of this invention?

Back 7

The cotton gin is a mechanism that allows a worker to gin cotton fifty times faster. It was invented by Eli Whitney. It made cotton America's most profitable cash crop and transformed southern agriculture.

Front 8

What factors did encourage immigration to the west?

Back 8

A new national land law of 1820, passed after the panic of 1819, reduced the price of federal land.

Under the Preemption Act

of 1830, squatters could get 160 acres at the minimum price of $1.25 per

acre.

Front 9

What was the importance of Cyrus McCormick’ reaper machine?

Back 9

Using a handheld sickle, a farmer could

harvest a half acre of wheat a day; with a McCormick reaper two people

could work twelve acres a day

Front 10

What was Samuel Slater contribution to the U.S. economy?

Back 10

He developed a water powered spinning machine.

Front 11

What was one of the striking aspects of the Lowell factories?

Back 11

That almost all the workers were women.

Front 12

What city was the center of iron production?

Back 12

Pittsburgh

Front 13

What city had become the largest city as population surpassed on million
by 1860?

Back 13

New York

Front 14

What was the most popular indoor entertainment in the first half of the 19th
century?

Back 14

Social drinking

Front 15

What were the Minstrel shows?

Back 15

blackface minstrel

shows, featuring white performers

made up as blacks. “Minstrelsy”

drew upon African

American subjects and reinforced

prevailing racial stereotypes.

Front 16

What was the largest group of immigrants living in America in 1860? What
was the major motive for the huge Irish immigration to U.S. after 1845

Back 16

Irish.

prolonged depression that brought

immense social hardship and the potato famine that killed more than 1 million peasants.

Front 17

What was the anti-Irish prejudice based upon?

Back 17

Irish immigrants confronted

demeaning stereotypes and intense anti-Catholic prejudices

Front 18

Describe the German immigration to the United States?

Back 18

German immigrants were generally learned individuals who came to america and settled in rural areas rather than cities. They migrated in families which helped them sustain elements of their culture. Many famous germans arose for example Levi Strauss the creator of jeans.

Front 19

Where did most of Norwegians and Swedes settle in the U.S.?

Back 19

They gravitated to Wisconsin and Minnesota where the climate and woodlands reminded them of home.

Front 20

What is Nativism?

Back 20

Similar to Racism, Nativism is the resentment of immigrants.

Front 21

What did the trade association attempt to do?

Back 21

pressured politicians for tariffs to protect their industries from foreign imports, provided

insurance benefits, and drafted regulations to improve working conditions, ensure quality control, and provide equitable treatment of apprentices and journeymen. They sought to control the total number of tradesmen

in their profession so as to maintain wage levels.

Front 22

How did labor unions face legal obstacles? What was the Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court decision in Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842)?

Back 22

They were prosecuted as unlawful conspiracies.

The court declared that forming a trade union was not in itself illegal, nor was a demand that employers hire only members of the union

Front 23

What was one of the most important labor victories of the 19th century?

Back 23

They established the "Ten hour work day" which became increasingly common by 1860.

Front 24

What was the effect of the rise of new professions in the 19th century United
States?

Back 24

The effect was that now everyone wanted to be a professional and it was the epitome of the democratic ideal.

Front 25

What was the newest and fastest growing profession in the United States in
the 1860

Back 25

Teaching was a fast growing vocation in the united states.