factory system
brings workers and machinery together in one place
capitalist
a person who invests money in a business to earn a profit
mass production
the rapid manufacturing of large numbers of identical objects
interchangeable parts
identical pieces that could be assembled quickly by unskilled workers
invest
to supply money for a project in order to make a profit
efficient
acting effectively, without wasted cost or effort
urbanization
the growth of cities due to movement of people from rural areas to cities
telegraph
a device that used electrical signals to send messages quickly over long distances
famine
widespread starvation
nativists
people who wanted to preserve the country for white, American-born Protestants
discrimination
the denial of equal rights or equal treatment to certain groups of people
reign
period of dominance or rule
inferior
less worthy; less valuable; of lower rank
cotton gin
a machine that used a spiked cylinder to remove seeds from cotton fibers
slave code
laws that controlled every aspect of enslaved people's lives
spiritual
a religious folk song that blended biblical themes with the realities of slavery
devote
to commit; to apply (time an energy, for example)
revolt
uprising; rebellion
turnpike
a toll road
corduroy roads
roads made of sawed-off logs, laid side by side
canal
a channel that is dug across land and filled with water (man-made waterway)
isolated
set apart
Industrial Revolution
During this great change, machines took the place of many hand tools, and much of the power once provided by people and horses began to be replaced by flowing water and then by steam engines.
Francis Cabot Lowell
Built factories that brought together spinning and weaving in one building.
Samuel Slater
memorized the plans for spinning machines and brought them to America.