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Cumberland Road develops
The first national road began in 1811, opening up the ability for westward movement. -
Economic Collapse
The economic collapse of 1819 was caused by the unregulated activities of the banks and rapid expansion of credit. The collapse resulted in a six year economic depression, a "valley" after a period of capitalist "peaking". -
Immagration from farms to cities
Around this time, the US population began to shift from farms to urban areas, where citizens acquired jobs working in factories. -
Labor strikes begin, demanding higher wages for the working class and slowly closing the gap between the upper and middle class.
By giving the workers power, the middle class was further developed. An indirect effect of the strikes was the shortening of the workday and increased leisure time, which coupled with higher wages, brought money to the entertainment and recreation industries, giving way to a faction of the economy which had been historically insignificant. -
Grand National Consolidated Trade Union founded
The Grand National Consolidated Trade Union was first domestic association, focusing on raising wages for laborers, thus increasing the cash flow in the lower class, feeding the capitalist economy. -
Panic of 1837
Under Van Buren's presidency, banks began to fail and close. With the collapse of the economy, workers lost jobs. -
"First" Industrial Revolution merged with the "second"
During the second revoltuion, more technological advancements were seen although socioeconomic issues were still at the forefront. The Industrial Revolutions revolutionized not only the workforce, but also the economy by leaving subsistence working in the past and introducing recreation. -
Transcontinental railroad finshed
The railroad was finished in 1869 and aided the mobility of the citizens. The railroad increased commerce and connected raw materials to factories and markets, establishing one of the most important economic developments during the Industrial Revolution. -
Knights of Labor emerged as a union
The Knights of Labor fought for higher pay for workers, which would care for the economy from the ground up.
