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The Changes in the U.S between Washington’s Presidency and the Market Revolution
Since the declaration of independence in 1779, the United States started a journey of development that has since created a strong nation. Throughout the late eighteenth century and the nineteenth century, there were remarkable developments that indicated a young nation that was on route to become a leading economy and political power in the world. These developments marked the changes that took place since the presidency of George Washington. This discussion will explore the changes that took place in the United States and how the country changed from the time of George Washington to the Market Revolution. To explore these changes, it is rational to explore the changes in the areas of politics, land and environment, and technology.
In the area of land and environment, the United States marked significant developments from the time of George Washington to the period of the market revolution. One of the main developments in land was the increase in the size of the United States as a country. More states were added to the United States territory, by the political processes or by acquisition from their colonial masters. Thomas Jefferson himself increased the size of the United States by overseeing the acquisition of new states (Velt, Age of Jefferson). This is as a result of the expeditions that he made in the onset of the nineteenth century, which were a great contribution to the expansion of land in the country. The war of 1800 became a significant part of the expansion as the United States sought to defeat any resistance to its expansion to acquire more lands (Lundberg 1). After Jefferson, the era of James Madison also marked massive land acquisition, such as the Louisiana among other areas (Velt, Good Feelings).
The political landscape changed significantly since the times of George Washington as America matched towards the future. Up to the time of the market revolution, the United States had been ruled by several presidents who followed the founding father, George Washington. One of the most significant developments in the presidential precedence was the adherence to the law and the principles of democracy. These presidents served their terms and were elected interchangeably with no order of the political parties that sponsored them (Velt, The President’s Precedence). By the mid nineteenth century, the United States had been ruled by around ten presidents, all from different political parties. This indicated the maturity of the political space and embrace of democracy in the politics of the young United States. At the same time, there were significant political changes in the parties, with the formation and break of The Whig party as the most remarkable.
Since the presidency of George Washington, many presidents made significant contributions to the Democratic and policies of the country. Thomas Jefferson introduced democratic policies that gave the United States a strong foundation of democracy (Velt, The Age of Jefferson). As a strong supporter of democracy, Jefferson promoted the respect for human rights and passed laws to stop the importation of slaves into the United States (Velt, The Age of Jefferson). In the onset of the nineteenth century, the young nation had to fight against the former colonial masters; the United Kingdom in order to secure her sovereignty to trade and expand the territory in the Native American lands (Lundberg 1). The war was fought during the presidency of James Madison, after successful acquisitions of states by Thomas Jefferson (Lundberg 1). This marked the growth of the military strength of the young United States, and expansion of the political space of the country.
The acquisition of new lands presented the United States with environmental resources that made the country’s landscape good and attractive. One of the main environmental attractions is the Great Falls of Missouri, which formed a great landscape and beautiful scenery in the young country (Lewis 137). The beautiful scenery form significant parts of the expeditions by Lewis and Clark in beautiful rivers and trails (Heroes of History 1-3). While the United States increased its size and beauty, the growth of factories and industrialization led to pollution of the environment and degrading of the climate. For instance, in 1798, there was significant pollution of water in Philadelphia due to the wastes released by the industries (Latrobe 141). As a result of the pollution of the environment, some people resisted the development, while others advocated for the development of industries. Factories were being resisted industries because of health and environmental implications, in addition to effects on labor and happiness (Cooper 119). However, factories were supported for the wealth they generated for the country and creation of jobs, and eradication of poverty (Coxe 106-107).
After the independence of the U.S, there were a number of industrial growths that led to the establishment of factories and manufacturing goods and services. These were as a result of the development of technology and change in technical practices that marked the acceleration of mechanical processes (Marx 2). The development in technology is the change that brought industrialization, which was a significant factor in the market revolution period (Velt, Market Revolution 1). The development of technology promoted the development of trade by sparking a period of massive industrial development of factories. Among the top developments in the manufacturing were the factories of silk and cotton, which started in Europe and grew in the United States. The development of these factories opened jobs for hundreds of people, including women and children (Coxe 107). However, it led to the employment of children in factories, who were motivated to work and support their families (A Factory Girl 1).
The development of technology during the late eighteenth century and the better part of the nineteenth century opened the door for development of machineries in the United States (Marx 2). The development of one level of technology gave room for further invention and the innovation of another level of technological devices that propelled the growth of the young country. According to Marx (3), the discrete machines were replaced by new embodiments of the new power, which would afterwards be referred to as technological systems. As a result of these developments, the period between 1870 and the 1920 marked the establishment of complex systems that dominated the U.S economy (Marx 3). The market revolution was as a result of the increase in the production levels in the country, which was powered by trade. This was as a result of the domination of the economy by systems developed through developments in technology.
Conclusion
Between the time of the presidency of George Washington and the market revolution, the United States had recorded remarkable changes in land, environment, politics and technology. The changes in politics gave an enabling environment for the acquisition of new lands, recognition of the environmental contribution to the growth of the country. This led to the developments in technology leading to improved production in the country and growth in trade, all which marked the emergence of the market revolution. These changes created a strong foundation for the overall growth of the young United States in all perspectives and development in all dimensions.
Works Cited
Cooper, Thomas, Thomas Cooper Against Fctories, 1823. Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/files/2013/04/Speaking-Against-Factories.pdf>
Coxe, Tench. Tench Coxe Speaks for Factories, 1787. Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/files/2013/04/Speaking-for-Factories.pdf>
Heroes of History,Heroes on the River, Heroes on the Trail, and Heroes in the Tent, Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/heroes-of-history>
Latrobe, Benjamin, Benjamin Henry Latrobe on Poluted Water in Philadelphia, 1798. Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/files/2013/04/Water-Pollution-in-Philadelphia.pdf>
Lewis, Meriwether, Meriwether Lewis at the Great Falls of Missouri, 1805. Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/files/2013/04/Lewis-at-the-Falls.pdf>
A Factory Girl, Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/a-factory-girl/>
Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <>
Marx, Leo. The Invention of “Technology.” Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/files/2013/04/The-Invention-of-Technology.pdf>
Lundberg, James. Happy 200th Birthday, War of 1812! Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://www.slate.com/articles/life/history/2012/05/war_of_1812_bicentennial_why_does_no_one_remember_the_war_that_made_andrew_jackson_famous_.single.html>
Velt, The President’s Precedents, Video 1, Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/avl-video/the-presidents-precedents>
Velt, The Age of Jefferson, Video 2, Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/avl-video/the-age-of-jefferson/>
Velt, The Market Revolution, Video 3, Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/avl-video/the-market-revolution>
Velt, Good Feelings, Video 4, Web, Accessed, July 28, 2015, <http://history.msu.edu/hst202/avl-video/good-feelings>