US Population Growth in the 19th Century

What was the main reason behind the increase in demand for slave labor in the South?

How many cities had a population of 20,000 or more people by 1860?

What fueled the westward movement of Americans?

What was the significance of the Supreme Court's decision in 1824?

What is the primary reason for the steady growth of America's population in the first half of the 19th century?

What was the main form of transportation for farmers in the interior of the continent?

What was the impact of the construction of canals?

What event in 1803 led to a significant increase in the U.S. population?

What was the business model that helped pay for factories and transferred population to cities?

What was the primary reason for the mid-century rush of immigrants from Ireland and Germany?

What was the significance of the westward expansion and the farming revolution?

How were enslaved people counted for population purposes?

What was the largest total increase in the U.S. population?

What is not reflected in the population chart?

What decade saw the greatest percentage jump in the U.S. population?

American Population Growth

The US population grew by about a third every decade in the first half of the 19th century, mainly due to natural increase and immigration.
The largest total increase in population occurred from 1850-1860, but the greatest percentage jump happened just after the turn of the century, partly due to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
By 1860, the US had 33 states and over 31 million people, making it the fourth most populated nation in the developed world.
Half of the US population in 1860 was under the age of 30.

Immigration and Slavery

Mid-century saw a second rush of immigrants from Ireland and Germany, mainly due to crop failures in those countries.
The addition of land and people in the southwest from the war with Mexico also contributed to population growth.
Enslaved people were counted as 3/5 of a person for population purposes, and the importation of new enslaved people was banned in 1808.
However, the introduction of cotton into southern agriculture created a sharp increase in the demand for slave labor, leading to a four-fold increase in the slave population by 1860.

Urbanization and Transportation

There was a tremendous increase in urban areas, with 45 cities having a population of 20,000 or more people by 1860.
About a third of the population lived beyond the Appalachian Mountains, fueled by territorial acquisitions, cheap land, and technological innovations.
National roads, private toll roads, and steamboats allowed for increased transportation and trade, especially along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
Canals linked waterways, and railroads began connecting eastern locations in 1827, facilitating trade and commerce.

Economy and Corporations

The Supreme Court's protection for corporations led to a shift in the American economy towards a market economy.
The corporation business model limited the liability of investors, making it easier to raise huge amounts of private capital.
Charters from individual states enabled corporations to help pay for factories, which contributed to the transfer of population into cities and the growth of the economy.

Explore the rapid growth of the US population in the 19th century, driven by natural increase and immigration, as reflected in the decennial census. Learn about the significant expansion of the American population during this period.