The America of the 1790s remained relatively religiously closed-minded and economically exclusive. First, religions of the time focused solely on white people of British descent. They ignored major marginalized groups such as slaves. In addition, religious leadership remained dominated by the patriarchy; although religious groups of the late 18th century held meetings to plan and to discuss finances, the meetings typically only included men. Ideas surrounding religion also confined themselves to certain doctrines: centralized organizations and their creeds far exceeded individual interpretation in terms of importance. Economically, commerce of the time remained especially unequal. Due to lack of advancement in transportation, farmers close to markets prospered and lived comfortably while those far away …show more content…
Eli Whitney’s invention of the Cotton Gin in 1793 equalized the refinement of cotton by replacing slave labor with mechanical innovation. This ensured that farmers could focus on raw output rather than refinement. Joined with the slavery and the expansion of the domestic market, the ease of producing such a profitable cash crop created the equal opportunity for upward economic mobility quintessential of democracy. Additionally, egalitarianism in commerce became further attained by the Transportation Revolution, which saw the incorporation of canals and steamboats to ensure that farmers had equal chance to reach profitable markets regardless of location, which previously greatly limited economic prosperity. From 1816 to 1840, the mileage of canals in the United States expanded from 100 miles to 3300 miles, ensuring affordable and quick transportation accessible to all farmers. Americans from 1790 to 1850 pursued happiness by participating in the market equally, and in this way, American society flourished