Economic Development Questions

While you peruse the packet given to you today in class, answer the following reading questions:

1. How did the advent of the canal affect the prospects of farmers in the west?
2. Why were canals too expensive for private companies to fund?
3. What ecological consequences resulted from the use of water power and canals?
4. Why did coastal cities construct water systems like the Croton Aqueduct?
5. How did New York become the most important city in the United States?
6. How did railroads offer a better solution with East-West trade than canals?
7. What barriers prevented railroads from gaining momentum at their inception in the 1830s/40s?
8. How did the advent of railroads affect the relationship between certain regions of the country?
9. In what ways did the effects answered in the previous question affect regional economic development?
10. How did government intervention/assistance help the railroad industry grow?
11. What technological innovations improved communication within the nation?
12. How did those innovations affect the relationship between the different regions of the country?
13. Why were newspapers so important?
14. How did commercial interests in cities compare to those in small towns?
15. How did the lowering of restrictions in the formation of corporations assist the growth of manufacturing?
16. As a whole, how did such rapid technological improvements affect the status of the US on the world stage?

19th Century Economic Development Part I

After reading through the textbook and discussing in class, what lessons from our first economic transformation in the 1820s to 50s can be applied to our current ecomonic state as a nation? Over the course of the weekend, come up with 3 solid plausible things that applies to this question. Your three ideas will constitute one comment, while you are also to post two additional comments to your classmates' ideas or reactions. Be sure to explain WHY your lessons are worthy of consideration.

We will have a discussion in class on Wednesday about this since you have your exam on Tuesday.

Expansionism/Mexican War

Post three responses to the following prompt: The desire for expansion into the west/southwest completely disregarded any possible consequences that would stem from actually acquiring the land.

Be clear in your stance, and use the days you have to come up with a good response.

Reading Questions for 442-453

Answer the following questions as you read this section:

1. What role did the publications of government reports on the Oregon Territory, California, and the Southwest have in spawning future settlements in the face of foreign occupation of those territories?

2. How was Texas' birth as a republic somewhat sketchy?

3. In what way did the annexation of Texas re-open the sectional divisions that existed within the United States?

4. How did Tyler get around the issue of needing 2/3 majority in Congress to annex Texas?

5. What role did James Polk have in instigating the war with Mexico?

6. Overall, which portions of the country supported the Mexican War?

7. What role did economic interests play in the desire for annexing California and New Mexico?

8. How did Polk place himself in a difficult situation with regards to Oregon?