The MARKET REVOLUTION'S Effect on SOCIETY [APUSH Review Unit 4 Topic 6] Period 4: 1800-1848

Introduction to the Market Revolution's Societal Impact00:00:10

Building on technological and agricultural innovations, the Market Revolution, defined as the linking of northern industries with western and southern farms, profoundly affected society and culture from 1800-1848.

Immigration and its Effects00:00:35

Industrial cities in the North experienced significant growth due to European immigration, particularly from Ireland (due to the Potato Famine) and Germany (due to crop failures and failed democratic revolutions). This influx provided cheap labor for expanding industries and diversified urban landscapes, leading to the establishment of various cultural institutions. However, it also fueled nativist sentiments, with stereotypes targeting Catholic and Jewish immigrants.

The Rise of the Middle Class00:02:21

The Market Revolution fostered an emerging middle class in the North, comprising businessmen, shopkeepers, and professionals. This new class developed distinct social norms, emphasizing education, temperance, and Protestant religious affiliation. Their increased prosperity allowed for leisure activities like attending plays, circuses, and sporting events.

Changing Roles for Women: The Cult of Domesticity00:03:07

The Market Revolution also reshaped women's roles, particularly with the rise of the 'cult of domesticity.' This ideology, promoted through popular media, assigned women to the private sphere, emphasizing their roles as mothers and homemakers. While prevalent in the middle class, working-class women often worked long hours in factories, like those at the Lowell Factory, due to economic necessity.

Conclusion: Fundamental Societal Alterations00:04:10

In summary, the Market Revolution fundamentally altered American society in the first half of the 19th century, impacting demographics, social stratification, cultural practices, and gender roles.