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Cotton Gin
(Specific day and month unknown.) The cotton gin was a machine that separated the cotton from the seed.
This was progression because separating the seed from the cotton was the hardest and most time consuming process in producing cotton, and this made the job much more efficient. -
Interchangeable Parts
(Specific day and month unknown.) These parts were made completely identical in order to make mass production easier.
This contributed to progress because now parts could be replaced rather than having to buy a whole other machine when one part breaks. -
Westward Expansion
(Day and month unknown.) By 1840, around 7 million people had expanded into the west.
This contributed to the american dream by creating the feeling that you can accomplish anything if you work hard for it. -
Missouri Compromise
(Specific day and month unknown.) In response to Missouri requesting to become a slave state, the government put in place the Missouri Compromise, which allowed Missouri to become a slave state, gave the North Maine as a free state, and the 36/30 line to be implemented.
This caused conflict between the North and South over the fight on letting states become slave or free. -
"Common Man"
(Specific day and month unknown.) The fight for the common man really began during Jackson's first presidential campaign. Jackson said he was a common man and fought for their rights, appealing to them for votes.
This contributed to the American Dream by giving a marginalized group at the time a voice. -
Erie Canal
The 425-mile canal was built from Lake Erie to Albany and made trade and transportation over long distances much easier, which contributed to the desire for expansion. -
Lowell Mill
(Day and month unknown.) The Lowell Mill provided room and board for their workers, and employed mostly women around the ages of 16 to 35.
This was progress because it implemented the factory system, which in turn became widespread in factories throughout the North. -
Lowell Girls
(Day and month unknown.) The Lowell Girls were the women who worked worked in the Lowell Mills.
This contributed to the American dream because it allowed women to earn their own money, be independent, and take their future into their own hands. -
Tariff of Abomination
This tariff placed a higher tax on imported goods in order to encourage the use of American goods, which would benefit the North, but negatively effected the South.
The tariff earned it's name as the Tariff of Abomination due to the backlash it got from the South. They opposed the tax which caused conflict not only between the federal government and the South, but also between the North and the South. -
Underground Railroad
(Specific day and month unknown.) This was a series of paths and safe houses for runaway slaves trying to make it to the North.
This contributed to the American Dream by continuing the fight for racial equality and freedom. -
Indian Removal Act
This law gave the president the ability to move the Indian population to unsettled land west of the Mississippi and take over the lands in settled territory.
This caused conflict because while some Indians left peacefully, many did not. The removal of the Indians also lead to many casualties on the journey to the new territory. -
Worcester vs. Georgia
(Specific day and month unknown.) In this case, the Supreme Court waved a conviction on Samuel Worcester who had trespassed on Indian land without a license, and decided that keeping non-Natives off of Indian territory was unconstitutional.
This caused conflict between the Indians and Americans because of tensions rising between the two after the case. -
Nullification Crisis
In response to the Tariff of Abomination, South Carolina passed an ordinance of nullification refusing to pay the taxes placed on imported goods placed on them by the federal government.
This caused conflict between the North and the South because South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union if the government tried to force them to pay the taxes, causing division between North and South. -
Mechanical Reaper
(Specific day and month unknown.) The mechanical reaper cut down crops whenever they were ready to harvest or ripe.
This was progress because it required less work and less time than hand-reaping. -
Steel Plow
(Specific day and month unknown.) Invented by John Deere, the steel plow was used to break up hard soil when farming.
This helped instill the feeling of progression, which caused the desire for expansion to begin. -
Telegraph
The telegraph was an invention that gave people the ability to communicate over long distances quickly and efficiently.
This helped create a feeling of progression, which led to the need to expand. -
Sewing Machine
The sewing machine was used to repair clothes made in factories.
This was progress because it was faster than hand-sewing and could be used in production lines. -
Compromise of 1850
This compromise admitted California as a free state and the territories of Utah and New Mexico were left to decide on whether or not to be free or slave by popular sovereignty.
This caused even more conflict to arise between the slave states and the free states and the fight over new states and territories. -
Railroads
(Specific day and month unknown.) This was when the first transcontinental railroad was built, and played an integral part in the industrial revolution in America.
This contributed to expansion by making travel over long distances faster and more accessible. -
Immigrants
(Specific day and month unknown.) An influx of immigrants came to America starting in the 1880s, due to an increased amount of jobs in factories in the North.
This contributed to the American Dream by affirming the belief that America provided a brighter better future with more opportunities.