Market Revolution Research Paper

Through the 1850s and early 19th century, the Market Revolution was a profound transformation that occurred in the United States. It created, changed, and left a long lasting legacy in the American economy and society. This period in American history can be characterized by rapid advancements in transportation, communication technology, and industrialization. Although it changed and created new aspects that would help improve America’s economy, these are some of the most important advancements introduced through the Market Revolution. The effects of the Market Revolution altered American society in several ways that include economic growth and social changes.

Firstly, the U.S. was introduced to massive improvements in transportation that helped

Through this improvement in roads, people were able to travel more comfortably and build a national community from its surrounding or distant communities. Although it was popular and important to travel through land,there were certain limitations that were caused through this method of transportation. That is where the construction of canals and steamboats rose in popularity and effectiveness. Transportation through water was much cheaper and more efficient in order to ship merchandise such as grain. An important canal that developed during the Market Revolution was the Erie Canal. “The Erie canal was the wonder of the age, providing easy passage to and from the interior, both for people and for goods.” The establishment of canals helped facilitate movement of goods from rural areas to urban markets. It helped create a stronger building of interstate commerce since it provided New York City with enough financial stability that it was no longer required to rely on European merchants. Not only that, but it also improved transportation for people across long distances and improved the bonding of communities surrounding the canal. Through water transportation, an improvement in

This period in the U.S. brought different changes in various aspects throughout American lives. A huge impact it had on American society would be the expansion and growth of size and diversity in industrial cities. The migration of immigrants specifically from Ireland and Germany, were seen to be a large portion of this population. These immigrants began to work in the industrial and manufacturing industry, which resulted in more expansion of industrial companies. Not only did immigrants expand the work in industrialization and manufacturing, but they brought their culture with them and eventually began to spread around their towns. Not only was the Market Revolution influencing immigrants to migrate to the U.S, but it also influenced the ways American citizens lived their daily lives. A specific social class that was changed during this time was the new middle class. It developed its own society with its own norms and values. “As the work roles of middle class men and women diverged, so did social attitudes about appropriate male and female characteristics and behavior.” The roles men and women held in society and especially in their families diverged and evolved throughout this time. Men were now managers of paid workers and spent less time with their families, while women still stayed at home responsible for household chores such as cooking and cleaning. During this