The War of 1812; A War that forged a Nation The War of 1812 lasted from 1812-1815, and was fought between the fledgling nation of the United States of America against the British Empire, including its North American colonies, as well as its Native American allies. The war was brought about by many reasons: The British War against Napoleonic France led to a paralysis of American trade, the impressment of U.S. merchant sailors into the Royal Navy which further impeded the American economy, British support of Native American tribes’ opposition towards American westward expansion, as well as outrage over affronts against national honor, notably due to British actions at sea. However, after nearly three years of war, no conclusive winner was determined. …show more content…
The embargo of 1807 reduced the amount of desperately needed foreign goods. To compensate for this deficit, enhanced manufacturing became necessary, seen most notably in the Lowell System in the Northeast. The inventions of Francis Cabot Lowell allowed the Boston manufacturing company to coalesce all of these processes and procedures in the facility at Waltham. With peace, New England became a textile mill center (Borneman 259). This progression of manufacturing led to a larger middle class, as people found the desire to buy luxury goods for themselves once again, leading to economic enhancement. Nationalism was further highlighted by the Tariff of 1816 - the first tariff in American history, which was instituted primarily for protection, not revenue (Borneman 261). The expansion of industrialization as a result of this enlarged middle class demonstrated America’s need to expand their self-sufficiency; because before the war, America greatly relied on foreign countries. The War of 1812 revealed the necessity for a better transportation system, economic independence, and independent markets, all of which came to fruition as a result of the …show more content…
The necessity for this better network to move goods manifested itself in this desire for improvement. After the War of 1812, demand increased for better roads and canals to expedite the transport of goods across the nation (Dudley). This improved package of commerce and transportation directly contradicted the attitude of Agrarian Republicans like Jefferson who hoped that industrialization would not dominate America or its politics, fearing the inevitable shift of the country into continuous international turmoil. Jefferson’s fear was realized as nationalism manifested itself in manufacturing, with patriotic Americans taking pride in the factories that had recently mushroomed forth (Dudley). After the war, many Americans felt differently due to the war’s stimulative effect on the economy. The improvements to the U.S. economy were important because they greatly augmented the already-lacking infrastructure of infant America, setting it up for future success, later seen in Clay’s American
As the Northeast began to develop industrially after the was of 1812, jobs were created providing both men and women the chance to earn a living. Though the idea of the industrial industry brought many positive innovations, the reality was not all it was cracked out to be. Working conditions proved unreasonable, and harsh. Though the innovations to come from the industrial industry were quite historical. Great Britain saw America start to slip away from their economical grasp, forcing great Britain to forbid any skilled manufactures from migrating to America.
The Development of the American Economy Before Henry Clay’s American system, America has been importing goods from outside of the country and only buying goods within their region. Clay’s American system helped America limit buying consumer products from foreign countries and increased the sales of local producers. The post-Civil westward expansion plays an important role in expanding farmlands for agriculture. Large quantities of food supply were available and railroads were used to transport these foods because it was fast, efficient and inexpensive. Henry Clay’s American system and the post-Civil War westward expansion, and the significance of railroads all helped shaped the transition of America’s economy from regional to national economy.
John Steele Gordon describes it as: “there really was no "American economy." Instead there was a myriad of local ones. Most food was consumed locally, and most goods were locally produced by artisans such as blacksmiths. The railroads changed all that in less than 30 years. ”8
During the years of 1870-1916 the U.S. went through an industrial boom that manifested the country we live in today. At the time, the nation was rebuilding it’s connections back up once again making the south and the north together as one union. In between all of the changes happening nationally, there were major developments in booming cities like inventions including new forms of industrial idealization, transportation, and the uprising of electricity and along with these inventions came users who would take advantage. As for transportation, one of the major effects of industrialization in the U.S. was the creation of the steamboat.
Growing since time could tell, the United States of America. Between 1776 and 1870 the United States of America experiences numerous principal changes relating to three main ideas. America is a stronger place today because of these changes. Crucial historical moments for America fall between these two time periods. I will discuss, compare, and contrast three ideas pertaining to America before 1776 and after 1870, plus explain why America has improved since these changes.
The Development of the American Economy There are many factors that contributed into shaping the American economy from a regional to a national economy through Henry Clay's American System, the building of railroads, and the expansion westward. The American System by Henry Clay was a created notion that purpose was to help increase economic growth so that America could become a self-standing country. The railroad was a critical invention that was built with the intention of causing the American economy to flourish and grow in the nineteenth century. The expansion of westward America after the Civil War encouraged economic mobility throughout the nation as it created agri-business as we know it today.
After the War of 1812, there were many events occurring in the United States and the national unity and growth had changed since then. The creation of the first water-powered mill introduced a faster way of production. With this discovery, the north quickly created other factories that would implant this technology and created a chain of fast producing mills. However, the south had to keep up with the alarming amount of cotton being consumed by the mills to create cloth. To keep up, they bought huge amounts of slaves to work at plantations and ultimately they also invented the cotton gin which allowed the slaves to clean cotton in the least amount of time.
After the War of 1812, it altered the North and turned into a business sector society in which support in long-separate trade modified people's desires and exercises. Included, European exchange to a great extent ended amid the war, business people put resources into household manufacturing plants. The change with economic development after the War of 1812 is also a very crucial and significant to American society. The begin of the Market Revolution happened in the early 19th century, many commerce and most Americans adapted to the Market Revolution, for example, the construction of roads, rails, and canals dramatically enhanced national mobility.
New canals and railroads were beginning to take shape across the country and modes of transportation, such as the steamboat, allowed for goods to be moved much more expeditiously than before. Furthermore, the Era of Good Feelings helped to allow the economy to grow and during this time period, the Tariff of 1816 was implemented as a protective tariff for industry. As part of Henry Clay’s American System, the tariff helped to ensure that American goods would be competitive inside of America.
By the early 1800’s America began transitioning from an agriculture based economy to industrial production. After Thomas Jefferson's’ Embargo Act of 1807 that cut off all exports from the United States, domestic production boomed. Americans were forced to depend solely on themselves, developing economic independence. Inventions such as Eli Whitney’s cotton gin and railroads lead to industrial production and textiles. By 1815 there were hundreds of textile mills, spurring the growth of the Lowell factory system.
Senses of nationalism were still evident and showed through America’s celebrations over their victories. Even after several years from when Revolutionary War ended, the people of America still celebrated it in 1819 (Doc C), showing how Americans can come together despite their differences. With America as a whole, the Rush-Bagot Agreement, Adams-Onis Treaty, and Monroe Doctrine were actions that were greatly supported by the people and would further assist in the advancement of the country (Doc H), providing great confidence for the people of America with their conflicts against Europeans. Another factor to America’s sense of national pride is the attempt to promote general welfare by uniting the country with a system of roads and canals made by John C. Calhoun (Doc B) despite his plan being shot down by the government. Even so, these events undeniably contributed to the existing senses of pride and unity within the nation.
For the first time in American history, the citizens of the country could now purchase and afford means of entertainment. This process, known as consumerism, likely made the sudden drop in the economy much more detrimental. While previously Americans were able to buy anything to their likings, this sudden exposure can be inferred to be a major wealth gain for the country, as the citizens of America could now enjoy life on a grander scale with the aid of such inventions as the Ford automobile. Simultaneously, American exports were gradually declining.
“As the Industrial Revolution spread to the United States, plants such as this textile factory appeared.” (Document 3) Textile factories were a big part in the rapid growth in product production. Textile factories produced clothing and other items that required cloth or cotton. If textile mills weren’t around then the U.S. would have to import all of these items making the economy go down. “In the graphic showing different methods of manufacturing, the cars were being made faster than anywhere else allowing the U.S. to export more than import.”
As the U.S. develops throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth century, manufacturing and industry seem to take on a larger role in society. From railroads to the North taking on industrialization for military reasoning, manufacturing flooded through the country. Our textbook states quite well the overarching theme of this essay’s agreement with Alexander Hamilton: “[But] American society was changing rapidly in the early nineteenth century, making it virtually impossible for the Jeffersonian dream to prevail (Brinkley, 211).” As our textbook suggests as well as other documents, Jefferson tries to hold onto the idea that an agrarian society will remain. Jefferson even says in “Thomas Jefferson on manufacturing and commerce” from 1781, that the attachment that the United States has with agriculture is “coarse, unsightly, and unpleasant,” but the people will soon come back to because they aren’t
The development of the New World in the early 19th century was both rapid and diverse, with economic, political, and social changes occurring at every turn. The stability of the new economy was questionable and risky, as many referred to America as an “experiment” of sorts. Innovation of new technologies, in the words of Eric Foner, “wrenched America out of its economic past.” The steamboat, Erie Canal, railroad, and telegraph all were extremely influential to American economic life. John B. Morris delivered a speech when they laid the foundation stone for the road.