Chapter 10 Section 1 Flashcards
When, where, and how did the Industrial Revolution begin in the United States?
The Industrial Revolution in the US began in 1793, when Samuel Slater opened the first cloth factory in Rhode Island.
How did work change in the early 19th century?
In the 19th century, machines produced goods more quickly and efficiently, replacing skilled craftspeople. People moved from farms to cities as jobs were concentrated in factories.
Describe how raw materials were transformed into cloth at textile mills.
The cotton was first run through a carding machine that prepared it for spinning. Next, a spinning machine wove the threads into strong yarn, and power looms wove the yarn into fabric.
In what ways did the establishment of mill towns in the northeastern United States rely on and improve earlier technological developments?
Francis Cabot Lowell introduced the power loom in his Massachusetts mill. Lowell’s new machine could be operated by just one person. Lowell’s faster, more efficient loom was based on Edmund Cartwright’s 1785 weaving machine that had replaced the hand-operated loom. Cartwright’s machine required several people to operate.
What was significant about manufacturing with interchangeable parts?
Interchangeable parts made the manufacturing process more efficient because pieces did not need to be custom-made for each finished item.
How did McCormick’s mechanical reaper contribute to agricultural and urban growth?
The mechanical reaper contributed to agricultural growth by allowing farmers to harvest a larger amount of wheat more quickly. It contributed to urban growth because McCormick opened a Chicago factory to build reapers, which brought more jobs and workers to that city.
What was a major change that resulted from the Industrial Revolution?
Mechanized production in factories replaced skilled craftspeople.
Who were the “Lowell girls”?
Female textile workers, some as young as 10 years old, were called “Lowell girls” after the mill town near Francis Cabot Lowell’s mill. Lowell girls lived in boarding houses and worked in the mills instead of attending school. The Lowell girls also published a monthly magazine of poetry and fiction called the “Lowell Offering”.
Why did mill owners choose to hire young girls and women?
Mill owners hired young girls and women because they would work for less pay than men.
What was the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association and why was it formed?
Young women working at the Lowell mill banded together to protest low wages and long hours in dangerous conditions. In the 1830s, the Lowell workers organized several strikes, or work stoppages, to protest cuts in wages. Their activism led to the formation of the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association, the first organization of working women in the United States.
In what industry did the Industrial Revolution begin in the United States?
the textile industry
What is a market revolution?
a transition from a pre-industrial economy to a capitalist economy
To which product did Eli Whitney apply the idea of interchangeable parts?
rifles
What does a mechanical reaper do?
it cuts and gathers wheat or oats
How long did widespread use of the telegraph for personal, business, and government communication last?
more than 100 years
