In the late 19th century, the United States was in the middle of large changes as technology advancements and new laws led to rapid industrialization. While the North had seen much of this progress take effect, the effects on the South and the West were not really taking place because the southerners had cotton and the westerners had metals and fur. Many aspects of the American economy, such as plantations, the Clipper Ship, the growth of trade unions, and the invention of the McCormick Reaper had become important parts of the economy. Immigration and tenant farmers, abolitionists, and nativists were at the middle of cultural and economic changes that were occurring across the country.
In the 19th century, transportation in the United States was mainly done by steam boat, train, and clipper ships. These methods of transportation were seen as much more efficient than the horse-and-carriage or boat-based systems that had been
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The need for industrialization drove different economies in each section of the country. In the North, the growth of factories, the invention of the McCormick Reaper and the growth of immigration and trade unions sparked a belief in the economic powers of technology and industry. Meanwhile, in the South, the use of plantations and the Slave Code nurtured a deeply entrenched system of slavery, while in the West, whaling ships and fur trading opened up a pathway to prosperity. While industrialization and technology provided many opportunities, it was not just an economic development—it also left lasting social and political effects. The Fugitive Slave Act and the Indian Removal Act were two laws enacted which had detrimental long-term impacts on those affected by them. In conclusion, the mid-1800s in the North, South, and West each had its own economy, technology and people, but all left their mark on the future of the United