Social Changes in the Early 1800s

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Questions and Answers

What is artisan republicanism?

The idea that labor and management are equal

The belief in industrial capitalism

Production based on liberty and equality (correct)

A hierarchical class structure

What was the effect of the industrial revolution on labor?

As factories increased, more people became wage-earners who worked under an employer.

What are unions?

Organizations of similar workers that bargained with employers over wages, hours, and benefits.

What does the labor theory of value entail?

The belief that the price of a product should be determined by the amount of work required to make it. Signup and view all the answers

How did the industrial revolution affect urban vs. rural areas?

Mills moved to cities as steam engines allowed for a significant increase in urban population. Signup and view all the answers

What were the new social classes in the North?

A small, wealthy business elite, a middle class, and many propertyless wage-earners. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized social classes in the South?

Wealthy plantation owners, poorer yeoman farmers, and many slaves. Signup and view all the answers

What was the effect of the cotton boom on southern hierarchy?

The wealth of the elite soared while backcountry yeoman became extremely poor. Signup and view all the answers

What was the gang-labor system?

A system used on southern plantations where overseers supervised gangs of slaves. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the elite after the industrial revolution?

Merchants, manufacturers, bankers, and landlords, aided by favorable government policies. Signup and view all the answers

Who constituted the middle class?

A group of prosperous farmers, artisans, and traders who benefited from increased income. Signup and view all the answers

What is a self-made man?

A man who rises to wealth from humble origins through hard work and self-discipline. Signup and view all the answers

What concerns did the middle class have regarding social reforms?

They were particularly concerned about moral and mental discipline. Signup and view all the answers

What was the state of social mobility during and after the industrial revolution?

Although theoretically possible, it was minimally achievable due to factory jobs being unskilled. Signup and view all the answers

What were the effects of lack of mobility on the working class?

Morale declined, alcoholism increased, and tension between workers and the elite grew. Signup and view all the answers

What was notable about immigration during this period?

There was an influx of Irish Catholics and Germans, with differing settlement patterns. Signup and view all the answers

What was the response to Irish Catholic immigrants?

Nativist fears centered around job competition and cultural differences. Signup and view all the answers

What is demographic transition?

A decrease in birthrate influenced by various social factors in the 1790s. Signup and view all the answers

What is republican motherhood?

The idea that women's political role is to instill virtue and duty in children. Signup and view all the answers

How did the political role of women change?

Women gained some influence through movements like temperance and abolitionism. Signup and view all the answers

What was the changing attitude towards slavery?

Gradually increasing ideas of abolitionism were noted, particularly in the North. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the American Colonization Society?

To propose gradual emancipation of slaves, compensating owners and relocating freed slaves to Africa. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Artisan Republicanism

Artisans advocated for liberty and equality, promoting small-scale production.
Ideology emerged prior to the Industrial Revolution, emphasizing independence among workers.

Industrial Revolution's Impact on Labor

Factories shifted labor dynamics, creating wage-earners dependent on employers.
Labor transformed into a commodity; workers no longer owned the means of production.

Formation of Unions

Unions emerged as collective organizations for workers to negotiate rights with employers.
Struggled for legal recognition, focusing on wages, hours, benefits, and workplace conditions.

Labor Theory of Value

Human labor is viewed as the foundation of economic value.
Product pricing should reflect the work invested, with most profits returning to the laborer.

Urbanization and the Industrial Revolution

The transition from water-powered mills to steam engines led industries to relocate to urban areas.
This shift resulted in significant population growth in cities.

Emerged a small, wealthy business elite alongside a sizable propertyless wage-earning class.
Diverse economic opportunities contributed to the formation of this social structure.

Dominated by wealthy plantation owners, with a layer of poorer yeoman farmers and a large enslaved population.
Economic disparities fostered a clear hierarchy within southern society.

Cotton Boom Effects on Southern Society

The cotton industry greatly enriched the elite, leading to greater wealth concentration.
Backcountry yeoman farmers experienced severe economic difficulties.

Gang-Labor System

A productive discipline strategy used on southern plantations during the mid-1800s.
Supervised by white overseers and black drivers to maximize slave productivity.

Post-Industrial Revolution Elite

Included merchants, manufacturers, bankers, and landlords.
Benefited from government policies favoring tariffs over income or estate taxes.

Composition of the Middle Class

Comprised prosperous farmers, artisans, and traders who enjoyed increased disposable income.
The availability of inexpensive manufactured goods facilitated their rise.

Concept of the Self-Made Man

Celebrated the ideal of individuals ascending to wealth from modest beginnings.
Highlighted virtues of hard work, discipline, and temperance in personal success narratives.

Many middle-class individuals, particularly women, pushed for reforms focused on morality and education.
Emphasized principles of temperance and frugality.

Industrial changes impeded the traditional paths to upward mobility, such as apprenticeships.
Workers often found themselves confined to unskilled factory jobs, diminishing opportunities for advancement.

Consequences of Stagnant Mobility on the Working Class

Declining morale among workers led to increased alcohol dependency and a reduced work ethic.
Heightened tensions developed between the working class and elite.

Immigration Patterns

Significant influx of Irish Catholics settled primarily in urban areas.
German immigrants sought agricultural opportunities, moving westward.

Nativist Reactions to Immigrants

Nativism emerged in response to fears about job competition and cultural differences.
Concerns also arose regarding the influence of the Catholic Church among Irish immigrants.

Demographic Shifts

In the 1790s, birthrates decreased, influenced by later childbirth among women and fewer children in middle-class families.
Young men's migration westward contributed to this demographic transition.

Republican Motherhood Ideology

Promoted the view that women's key role was to instill patriotic values and civic virtue in their children.
Emphasized women's influence on shaping future republican citizens.

Evolving Roles of Women in Politics

The ideology of the cult of domesticity delineated distinct spheres for men (work and politics) and women (home).
Women gained political influence indirectly through social movements, particularly temperance and abolitionism.

Changing Perspectives on Slavery

Gradual increase in abolitionist sentiments, especially in northern states during this era.
Heightened discussions around the morality and future of slavery in the United States.

American Colonization Society Goals

An organization formed by elite individuals advocating for gradual emancipation of slaves.
Proposed sending freed individuals to Africa, particularly Liberia, and compensating slave owners.

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Explore the significant social changes during the early 1800s through this flashcard quiz. Focus on key concepts such as artisan republicanism and the effects of the industrial revolution on labor. Test your knowledge and enhance your understanding of this transformative period in history.