Forging a national economy Flashcards
History
What is ‘Self-Reliance’ by Ralph Waldo Emerson?
An essay promoting individualism, self-sufficiency, and personal independence, which resonated with Americans moving westward in the mid-1800s.
What is a Rendezvous in the American Northwest fur trade?
A system where fur trappers and traders met once a year to exchange pelts for supplies, playing a key role in the booming fur trade of the early 19th century.
What is Ecological Imperialism?
The aggressive exploitation of natural resources and wildlife, particularly in the American West, as settlers and traders overhunted animals and altered ecosystems.
What was the Ancient Order of Hibernians?
An Irish immigrant organization that provided social support and protection for Irish workers, especially in response to anti-Irish discrimination.
Who were the Molly Maguires?
A secret Irish labor organization that fought for better working conditions in Pennsylvania coal mines during the 19th century, often through violent resistance.
What is Tammany Hall?
A powerful political machine in New York City that was controlled by Irish immigrants in the mid-1800s and used patronage to maintain power.
What was the Know-Nothing Party?
A nativist political party that opposed immigration, particularly Catholic immigrants, and sought to restrict their political influence in the mid-1800s.
What was the Industrial Revolution?
The transformation of the U.S. economy in the 19th century through mechanization, factory production, and technological innovations like steam power.
What is the Cotton Gin?
A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that drastically sped up cotton processing, leading to a boom in the Southern economy and an expansion of slavery.
What was Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842)?
A Massachusetts Supreme Court case that ruled labor unions were legal and had the right to organize for better wages and working conditions.
Who were the Factory Girls?
Young women who worked in textile mills under harsh conditions, often in places like the Lowell Mills, where they lived in company-owned boardinghouses.
What is the Cult of Domesticity?
The 19th-century ideal that women’s roles were centered around homemaking and moral guardianship, reinforcing gender divisions in society.
What is the McCormick Reaper?
A mechanized farming tool that greatly increased wheat production, reducing labor needs and fueling westward expansion.
What is the Erie Canal?
A man-made waterway connecting the Great Lakes to the Hudson River, significantly lowering shipping costs and boosting trade.
What was the Pony Express?
A short-lived but famous mail service (1860–1861) that used horseback riders to quickly transport messages across the western frontier.
What was the Transportation Revolution?
The expansion of roads, canals, steamboats, and railroads in the early 19th century, which dramatically improved trade and travel.
Who was Samuel Slater?
An industrialist who memorized British textile machine designs and brought them to the U.S., kickstarting the American factory system.
Who was Eli Whitney?
An inventor known for the cotton gin and the concept of interchangeable parts, which revolutionized manufacturing.
Who was Elias Howe?
Inventor of the sewing machine, which increased textile production and transformed clothing manufacturing.
Who was Isaac Singer?
Improved the sewing machine and helped make it widely available for home and industrial use.
Who was Samuel Morse?
Inventor of the telegraph and Morse code, which revolutionized long-distance communication in the mid-19th century.
Who was John Deere?
Developed the steel plow, which made farming in the Midwest more efficient by allowing farmers to cut through tough prairie soil.
Who was Robert Fulton?
Built the first commercially successful steamboat, the Clermont, which improved transportation and trade along American rivers.
