Consequences Of The Market Revolution In The 19th Century

The “market revolution” is a term used by historians to describe the economic transformation that swept the United States in the early 19th century, prompted by a series of innovations in transportation and communication that serve as links among distant communities [327]. It also changed the way the economy itself worked in, farmers and manufacturers started to produce “for the market”, rather than for personal consumption, with the aim of maximizing profits [337].

To avoid discerning between ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ in this regard (as the goodness of the outcome depends on the judge) a list of some of the consequences will follow, with their effects on the Nation.

1) Land Opening: A swift succession of inventions marked the first half of

The invention of the cotton gin led to cotton plantations spreading into the South Carolina upcountry [335]. The American Industrial Revolution was centered on Northern factories producing cotton textiles, which generated a tremendous demand for cotton [335]. In order to provide workforce to grow this new crop, African slave trade opened between 1803 and 1808. Historians estimate that around 1 million slaves were shifted from the older slave states to the Deep South between 1800 and 1860, mainly to be sold at auction for work in the cotton fields

The market revolution converted the economy into one of commercial farms and manufacturing cities. Farmers increasingly concentrated on growing crops and raising livestock for sale, while purchasing good previously produced at home [337]. At first, farmers not located near cities or navigable waterways found it almost impossible to market their produce. Nonetheless, the growing transportation networks linked farmers to national and world markets