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Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin revolutionized life for southern plantation owners and workers. The gin separated cotton seeds from the cotton fiber, which was used to make cloth. Before this invention it took hours for one pound of cotton to be separated from the seeds. After the invention the process went exponentially faster. This is significant to progress because it brought plantation systems to their peak, but it also increased the slave population. -
Interchangeable Parts
Interchangeable parts were another of Eli Whitney's contributions to America. The concept behind these parts was they were all made exactly the same. This made replacing broken parts extremely easy and much more efficient. This is significant to progress because it revolutionized all kinds of machinery, from guns to sewing machines.Jefferson claimed Whitney was responsible for the dawn of the machine age. -
Missouri Compromise
The Louisiana Territory quickly become populated and the Missouri area asked to be admitted as a slave state. To maintain the balance of slave states and free states in Congress, James Tallmadge proposed the Missouri Compromise. The compromise suggested Missouri be admitted as a slave state at the same time Maine was admitted as a free state. This is significant to conflict because it caused political battles between pro-slavery and anti-slavery Congressmen. -
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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe-houses used to help slaves escape to freedom in the North. Harriet Tubman is famous for making 19 treks and helping several hundred slaves escape. The Underground Railroad is significant to the American dream category because so many slaves used it to find freedom in the North. -
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Emigration
During the 19th century many Europeans immigrated to the United States, many of which came from Ireland and Germany. These people left their homes to escape poverty, political unrest, and other issues. They sought new lives in the United States. Many immigrants arrived in New England ports with no money, but they soon found work in the factories. Others were employed on labor-intensive jobs. This is significant to American dream because people moved to America in hope of starting a new life. -
Election of 1824/Corrupt Bargain
During the election of 1824, Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, but not the majority. Since there was no majority winner, the vote went to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay threw his support behind John Q. Adams; Adams won the election. The election was referred to as a 'Corrupt Bargain' because Clay was given a government position after Adams became president. This is significant to conflict because Jackson and Adams became rivals during and after the election. -
Erie Canal
Before the Erie Canal, shipping goods from Albany was expensive and time-consuming. Governor Clinton took up the proposal for the canal and convinced Congress to allot money to build it. After much hard work and lots of money, the canal was finished. It stretched 363 miles to connect Lake Erie with the Hudson River. This is significant to expansion because more people began to move west when it became easier to ship products between regions. -
Railroads/B&O Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first chartered railroad for transportation of passengers and products. The first track was only 13 miles long, but it created a lot of excitement when it opened in 1830. The first stone was laid in Baltimore in 1828 by Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. This is significant to progress because it soon became much easier for people to travel around the country. -
Tariff of Abomination
On this date, John Quincy Adams passed the Tariff of 1828. This tariff, known to southerners as the Tariff of Abomination, helped Jackson win the election of 1828. The tariff sought to protect manufacturing interests from foreign competition, but made life in the south more expensive and cut profits for anyone trading outside the U.S., upsetting southerners who traded with Europe regularly. This is significant to conflict because it led to the Nullification Crisis and major disagreements. -
Spoil System
The Spoil System is the act of hiring and firing government workers when the president changes. Andrew Jackson started this system during his first term in office when he replaced government employees with his friends and supporters, even if they were not qualified for the job. This is significant to conflict because this was so controversial and many people were unhappy about it. -
Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which authorized the president to trade unsettled territory in the west to Indians in exchange for their tribal lands. Some tribes moved to their new land peacefully, but many resisted. The forceful removal of the Indians led to the terrible Trail of Tears. This is significant to conflict because it caused issues not only between Americans and Natives, but also between supporters and non-supporters of the act. -
King Jackson
During Andrew Jackson's presidency he earned the nick-name "King Jackson". This was likely started by the Whig party who got their own name from an English party who hated their king. Jackson was given this nickname due to his disregard of other government officials and documents. He used his veto power more during his presidency than all the presidents before him combined. This is significant to conflict because the Whigs were a rival political party trying to stir things up with Jackson. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis occurred as a result of the Tariff or Abomination. South Carolina was not happy with the tariff and nullified the law within their borders. At the same time, they threatened to secede from the Union if the tariff was not lowered or the government attempted to collect the tariff. This is significant to conflict because it was a conflict in itself, but also because a real threat of war or military action was present. -
Mechanical Reaper
Cyrus McCormick invented and patented the mechanical reaper. Before this invention reaping was long, painstaking work that had to be done by hand. The mechanical reaper sped up the process of reaping and made it much easier for the farmers. It took many years before his invention was actually recognized for its usefulness, but once it was, it became an international sensation. This is significant to expansion because farmers began to move west as they looked for more land they could harvest. -
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Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the tragic result of the Indian Removal Act. The Cherokee Indians moved from their native lands to their allotted land in the western territory. The move was hard with most people walking the long distance. Many people died of disease and other complications along the route. The many deaths earned the route The Trail of Tears. This is significant to conflict because the Indians being moved was very controversial and many Indians did not want to leave. -
Steel Plow
In 1837, John Deere invented the steel plow when he re-purposed the blade from a sawmill. The steel plow made agriculture easier and faster for farmers. They no longer had to stop and clean their plows while working in the field, instead, the dirt and clay slid off of the steel blade. This is significant to expansion because more people began to move west knowing it would be easier for them to pursue agriculture. -
Telegraph
On this date, the first telegraph message was sent from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, Maryland. The telegraph was invented by Samuel F.B. Morse through many years of work. Telegraphs were sent through electronic currents running over distances of wire. Morse code was invented to use with telegraphs and their electric currents. This is significant to expansion because messages could be sent instantly over long distances. News could be told as soon as it happened and families could communicate. -
Sewing Machine
Elias Howe is credited with the invention of sewing machine. At first no one was interested, even after his machine won a competition against the best hand-sewers in the country. Eventually his machine became popular and Howe died as a millionaire because of its' success. This is significant to progress because the sewing machine made it easier and more efficient to make clothing, aiding the textile industry. -
Gold Rush of 1849
In January of 1848 James Wilson Marshall discovered gold in the American River in California. This discovery sparked the 1849 Gold Rush and a flood of people moved to the area. Men from all over the country made the move west to hunt for gold - these men are known as 49ers. By the end of 1849, the non-Indian population of California was estimated at 100,00, compared to 20,000 at the end of 1848. This is significant to expansion because so many people moved west during this time. -
Compromise of 1850
When California asked to enter the Union as a free state, Congress was worried the balance between free and slave states would be upset. Henry Clay offered solutions to avoid a conflict between these states while admitting California. The Compromise resulted in California being admitted, an amendment to the Fugitive Slave Act, and the Washington D.C. slave trade being abolished, among other things. This is significant to conflict because it prevented further issues between the North and South.