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Population
New York and Philadelphia were the only cities exceeding 20,000 people. -
Period: to
America
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First Textile Factory
The first textile factory built by Samuel Slater -
First Cotton Thread Spinner
First cotton thread spinner in the US, located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island -
Young Labor
Samuel Slater's mill consisted of only 9 workers in 1791, each under the age of 12. -
First Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the first cotton gin -
Lancaster Turnpike
Highway that extended 62 miles west from Philadelphia to Lancaster. This highway helped expand the American economy west. -
Interchangeable Parts
Eli Whitney developed interchangeable parts for muskets, making them easier to produce and repair. -
Factories
Starting with the invention of the cotton gin, factories began to flourish in the North. -
Patents
By 1800, only 306 patents were registered with the patent office. -
The Pennsylvania Dutch
Germans settled into the communities and attempted to keep their traditions. -
Fulton's Steam Boat
Robert Fulton invented the first steam boat, the Clermont -
Cumberland Road Started
The Cumberland Road, also called the national road, was first started in 1811, but due to the War of 1812 was interupted. The road was finally completed in 1837 in Vandalia, Illinois. -
Limited Liability
The principle of limited liability allowed the individual investor, in cases of legal claims or bankruptcy, to risk no more than their own share of stock. -
Tariff of 1816
Tariff passed by congress in order to help protect American factories from the massive amounts of cheap British goods flooding the market. -
Erie Canal Construction Begins
Erie canal construction begins to link the Great Lakes to the Hudson River. -
The Steamship, Savannah
The steamship, Savannah, crossed the Atlantic ocean. -
Fur Trapping
American fur trappers were setting their traplines all over the vast Rocky Mountain region.The fur-trapping empire was
based on the “rendezvous’’ system. -
Boston's Sewer System
Boston pioneered a new sewer system. -
Sewer System
Boston pioneered a new sewer system in 1823. -
Erie Canal Construction Completed
Erie Canal construction completed (363 miles long) -
First Railroad
The first railroad was created. It was one of the most significant contributions to early American economy. -
Ecological Imperialism
The idea of ecological imperialism caused the near-extinction of Buffalo, Beaver, and Sea Otter. -
National Mystique
A time when people were inspired by literature and paintings, eventually kindling a powerful conservation movement. -
The Mechanical Reaper
Cyrus McCormick built a mechanical reaper that greatly increased production. This impacted mainly inthe west. -
Canal vs Railroad
New York, heavily invested in the canal system, prohibited trains from carrying freight. They did this so they would not suffer from the trains success. -
Death of John Marshall
John Marshall died, bringing more economic oppurtunities to America. This was due to his strict lawmaking. -
Ancient order of Hibernians
The Ancient Order of Hibernians was a group founded in Ireland to help fight landlords. It was used in America to help others that had been downtrodden. -
Cumberland Road Finished
The Cumberland Road, also called the national road, was first started in 1811, but due to the War of 1812 was interupted. The road was finally completed in 1837 in Vandalia, Illinois. -
John Deere's Plow
A lightweight steel plow pulled by a horse. This new plow greatly increased the efficiency of farming. -
Demographic Center
By 1840, the demographic center of population of the United States moved past the Allagheny Mountains. By 1860 the center moved past the Ohio River. -
10 Hour Federal Jobs
President Van Buren established 10 hour work days for federal employees. -
An Increase of Roman Catholics
In the mid 1800s Roman Catholics began to enter into America. By 1840 they had become the fifth largest religion in the U.S. -
Labor Unions
The Massachussets Supreme Court ruled that labor unions are not illegal as long as they are peaceful. -
Pipe-in Water System
New York in 1842 abandoned wells and cisterns for a pipe-in water system. -
Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote "Europe stretches to the Alleghenies; America lies beyond." -
Morse's Telegraph
Samuel Morse invented the telegraph, linking Americans across the country. -
Nativists and Irish Catholics
A fight between the Nativists and the Irish Catholic in Philadelphia. It lasted several days while two Catholic churches were burned and 13 people were killed. -
Potato Famine
Potato famine hits Ireland, causing many people to move to America. America eventually had more Irish people than Ireland. -
The Sewing Machine
Elias Howe invented the first sewing machine. This greatly increased industrialization in the North. -
John Jacob's Death
John Jacob, a fur trader and real estate speculator, died leaving behind a $30 million estate. -
"Know Nothing" Party Formed
The "Know Nothing" party was formed. It promised to purify American politics by limiting or ending the influence of Irish Catholics and other immigrants, thus reflecting nativism and anti-Catholic sentiment. -
Roman Catholics
By 1850, an estimated 1.8 million members of the Catholic Church had moved into America. They quickly became the largest religion in America. -
Immigration Into America
By 1850, approximately 1.5 million Irish and Germans had migrated to America. -
Clipper Ships
Navan yards began to produce a new sleek boat called a Clipper ship. These boats were long, narrow, and rather fast. -
Tammany Hall
A corrupt political machine that became powerful due to the Irish vote. The Irish were then rewarded by patronage. -
Division of Labor
The principle of divided labor emerged with each region specializing in its own economic activity. -
Molly Maguires
An Irish Miners' union which affected the Pennsylvania coal districts. -
Transatlantic Cable
A transatlantic cable that greatly changed world communication. Created Cyrus Fields. -
Pony Express Established
The Pony Express was established. The Pony Express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, mail, and small packages across America on horseback through a series of relay stations. -
Population Increased
By 1860, 43 cities now boasted a population of over 20,000 people. -
Increase in Steamboats
By 1860, over 1,000 steamboats were on the Mississippi river. -
Increase in Patents
By 1860, about 20,000 patents had been registered.
