Industrialization and Expansion (1815-1861)

After the war of 1812, America had an “Era of Good Feelings” under Presidents James Madison and James Monroe. Under Monroe, the United States policy in North America was the Monroe Doctrine, which suggested that Europe should stop trying to control the United States and other independent countries in the Americas. Around this time, Congress called for something called the “American System”. The American System meant spending money on banking, transportation and communication. Due to the American System, bigger cities and more factories were built. One of the big transportation projects of this time was the Erie Canal, a canal (fake river) in the state of New York.

The Erie Canal

                                        
In the early 19^th century, there was an industrial revolution. Many factories were built in Northeastern cities such as Lowell,Massachusetts.

A factory in Lowell,Massachusett

Most of them made clothes. Many factory workers were women, and some were children or people from Ireland or Germany. Despite this industrialization, America was still a nation of famers.

Young women in Lowell, Massachusett