Along river based trade routes, cities like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and St. Even interior cities grew in population as trade and transportation centers. Supporting the textile industry, the Lowell Mills in Massachusetts became a prime example of factory job opportunities attracting young adults to leave the farm and come work for wages.Īs more and more factories opened up across the Northeast and Mid-west, many young workers left the farms to move to the cities and pursue their own careers. Throughout the 19 thcentury an increasing number of people were leaving farms and moving to cities and gaining employment in factories. People generally move to and live where they can find work and support their families. John Deere’s improvements to the steel plow and Cyrus McCormick’s reaper allowed for farmers to grow and harvest mass quantities of crops that was needed to satisfy the increasing domestic and global demand for agricultural products. The decline of the apprenticeship system and loss of labor in rural areas forced farmers themselves to shift from traditional subsistence (self-reliance) farming and bartering of goods, to a more commercialized (for profit) single crop approach.
Previously urged to engage in apprenticeships, young workers were now being encouraged to join the labor force by moving to urban centers and take a wage job.
Railroad companies became one of the largest employers in the country and investment profits from growing demand helped fuel investments in other industries such as coal, lumber, and oil.Īs the countries industries became mechanized, a greater demand for factory labor spread throughout the economic system. Trade of wheat, corn, and grain along with hogs and cattle were commonly loaded onto trains and shipped East for domestic consumption or to shipped to Europe. As businessmen and corporations saw their profits and demand for products worldwide increasing, railroad construction took on an ever increasing pace.Īs the Midwest and Northeast regions became linked by rail, both areas prospered economically. Mid-west cities like Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland thrived as they became booming trade centers as mid-western agricultural products were shipped through the Great Lakes and along the canal to New York and eventually Europe.īy midcentury, railroads were one of the fastest growing industries in the country.īy midcentury, railroads were one of the fastest growing industries in the country. The canal ran 363 miles and connected the port city of New York with the mid-west agricultural centers via a system of canals running to the Great Lakes. The Erie Canal was completed in 1825 and was an engineering marvel. The Erie Canal was completed in 1825 and connected the port city of New York with the mid-west cities like Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland. In order to get manufactured goods to these new markets, a massive system of canals and roads were constructed. The resulting changes were not only economic, but impacted the family dynamic, gender roles, government oversight, and regional population shifts.įollowing the War of 1812, the country looked to expand into the western territories in order to take advantage of the economic opportunities there as new markets opened up. However, the resulting changes were not only economic, the Market Revolution caused distinct shifts in American society impacting the family dynamic, gender roles, government oversight, and regional population shifts. These philosophical and technological shifts would encourage the embracement of capitalist principals that would drive economic activity throughout the nation. Key factors that contributed to this economic shift were technological advancements, a growing demand and employment in factory jobs.
Key factors that contributed to this economic shift were technological advancements in modes of transportation, a growing demand and employment in factory jobs followed by increased urban migration, and an agricultural shift away from subsistence farming (for self-sufficiency) towards commercial farming (for profits). The Market Revolution was a fundamental transformation of the United States economy throughout the first half of the 19 thcentury, primarily due to the widespread mechanization of industry and the expansion and integration of various economic markets both domestic and foreign.
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