Gov. Essay

PART III: Applying What You Have Learned

Chapter 14

1. How did changes in the size and character of the population affect American social and economic life from 1790 to 1860?

The population of the United States doubled every twenty-five years during the 1800s. Thirty-three states now existed by 1860, and the population of the U.S. was ranked 4th in the world. By 1860, more than 40 cities had 20,000 + inhabitants. The booming population can be associated with high birth rates and immigration of Germans and Irish. The expansion of people was greater than expected, so poor sanitation and poor sewage systems often resulted. Many native people of the United States resented these foreign immigrants, so they would treat them harshly and not give them a chance to work. However, others took advantage of the rising population, and more factories and farms were available, therefore the economy was in better shape.

2. How did the existence of a vast western frontier shape Americans’ values and society in the period 1790-1860?

Americans in this period admired the western land’s nature and beauty. The growing sense of nationalism led to an appreciation of American wilderness. Many Americans saw the western frontier to be among the United States’ defining characteristics. This approach to wilderness became a source of inspiration for literature and painting, initiating a powerful conservation movement. One famous artist of this time period was George Catlin. He was one of the first Americans to propose the preservation of nature as a national policy. Catlin advocated the creation of a national park. This was later granted with the creation of a national park system, the first one beginning with Yellowstone Park in 1782.

3. What were the effects of the new factory and corporate systems of production on early industrial workers, and how did they respond to these conditions?

It took a while for the factory system to hit America, almost a generation...