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19th Century Dbq

Decent Essays

In the mid 1700s America was considered a __________. Between the mid 18th century and the late 19th century, America transitioned from a newly developing country to a dominant world power. Background information:_____________________________________________ Various factors contributed to the rapid growth of the United States. As America strengthened there was a definite transfer of power. Prior to 1787, America’s constitution was/America was constituted under the Articles of Confederation, which proved to be highly ineffective. Due to the plethora of problems under the Articles of Confederation, the constitution needed to be either revised or completely overthrown. Under the Articles, “each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, …show more content…

In the early 19th century rural worker produced their own goods and were very self sufficient. Farm families grew their own crops and raised their own animals and made their own clothing, candles, and soap. They would sell those products at markets for money to buy certain products that couldn't be produced on their own. By the middle of the 19th century, America, especially in the Northeast, became more industrialized. This spurred on a Market Revolution. People were buying and selling goods instead of making it for personal use. This caused big changes in not only the US economy, but in the daily lives of Americans. The incomes of everyday Americans rose as goods and services grew. Inventions such as the textile mill and interchangeable parts played a huge role in the improvements and growth of factories in the North. Interchangeable parts allowed mass production and strengthened industry. With the Market Revolution came an Economic Revolution. This impacted communication as well as transportation. The telegraph, invented in 1837, allowed instantaneous communication and railroads allowed safe, reliable, and quick transportation. Water transportation, such as steamboats and canals, made it easier to move heavy machinery and raw materials. The building of canals and railroads required a large amount of workers. The labor demand grew which caused many immigrants to come to America for new opportunities to make a living. The investment in canals and railroads also turned the Northeast into the center of commerce in America, and after opening the Eerie Canal, New York City became the main link between agriculture in America and European markets. The improvements in transportation and communication aided in allowing Americans in different regions to keep in touch in addition to creating interdependencies and markets.

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