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Industrial Revolution begins (in the UK)
Though it had not yet touched America, the industrial economy that would soon take over the world was created. Rather than small hobbyist workshops and subsistence agriculture, mass production of goods was becoming more and more popular. This trend used the institution of mills. -
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Pre-Market America
Not yet prey to the grasp of the industrial revolution, America was largely subsistence and community-based when it came to economics. Jefferson's idea of an "Agrarian Republic" was a reality. -
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Agricultural Boom in the Old Northwest
The trans-Allegheny states became a breadbasket for the USA. Pioneers from New England quickly cleared forests and then began to grow wheat and corn from the rich, rock-less soil. -
Samuel Slater builds the first textile factory in the USA
Slater was a British-born American industrialist. He has been known as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution", and in Britain, as "Slater the Traitor", as he brought British industrial technology to the USA. Slater's first American factory was located in Pawtucket, Rhode island, and would go on to found many more throughout New England. -
Cotton Gin in invented
Eli Whitney, born in Westborough, MA, invents the first cotton gin. This invention would improve cotton production fifty fold, and would both drive America's new economy forward and prolong slavery. -
Interchangable Parts
In the years prior to 1798, musket parts were created from molds, but were largely exclusive to said musket. Eli Whitney created a method where parts for Muskets could be mass-produced and standardized, so that Muskets could be repaired and assembled with ease. -
Cumberland Road
This trans-Alleghenian road stretched from Maryland to Illinois. It served as a highway for westward immigrants and pioneers, and was a predecessor of sorts to the Oregon (and associated) Trail(s). -
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Construction of the Erie Canal
The Erie canal is constructed, connecting Albany to Buffalo via waterway. This 363 mile passage was the main force behind the population boom in western New York, as well as an important factor in the success of westward migrations. -
First American railroad
The construction of this faster, cheaper alternative to canal-building was perhaps the most important event in America's industrial history. Thirty two years later, thirty thousand miles of rail sprawled across the US, which eased some transportation obstacles that had hitherto been experienced by traders and businesses. -
John Marshall dies
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the years prior to 1835. Under Marshall, monopolies were unregulated and existed rampantly. The new Justice, Robert B. Taney, was economically liberal, and allowed competition and markets to flourish. -
John Deere
Though agriculture boomed in the Old Northwest, the rich soil was too thick for many wooden plows to plow for long. John Deere produced a sharp, steel plow that was also light enough to be towed by horses rather than oxen. -
Legalization of Unions
The court case Commonwealth v. Hunt rules that Labor Unions are legal within the US. This was a colossal victory for industrial laborers throughout New England, who had long been afraid to Unionize against unjust conditions due to the risk of losing employment. -
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Clipper Ships
Clippers are tall, narrow, light ships designed for fast movement and small loads of cargo. If the wind favored them, they were faster than any steamboat that existed at the time. Clippers mainly shipped small-quantity, high-value goods and Australia or California-bound pioneers. -
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Black Forties and America's Hibernians
The Irish -starving and forced off their land- immigrated to the USA. Here, they would fill many of America's new factory jobs. Despite the role they played in forging America's economy at the most important level, they were ridiculed well into the 20th century. -
Sewing Machine
The sewing machine changed the painstakingly long process of hand sewing or knitting clothes into a fast, efficient method assisted by machinery. Until now, all clothes one owned were made by one's household matron, but now, clothing could be mass-produced and sold from stores. -
World's Fair in London
This eclectic gathering of innovation known as the Great Exhibition showcased American entrepreneurship, industry and technology. -
Telegraph cable between America and Europe is constructed
A cable is stretched from Newfoundland to Ireland that is set up to be able to carry morse-code telegraphs. This internationally funded project would fail in a few weeks, but set the precedent for international communication and globalization. -
First Oil Well constructed (Titusville, PA)
Oil, soon to be the world's most relied upon resource, was tapped for the first time in mass quantity in Titusville, PA. This "Black Gold" would propel America's exploding industrial economy even further. -
Pony Express
Before the telegraph was invented, mail was carried by Ponies. Mailmen could traverse the land between California and Missouri in a mere ten days. -
Permanent transatlantic cable
After the blunder that had occurred earlier in the decade, a permanent cable was constructed that would forever connect Europe and America.