Cultural, Economic & Political Changes in the US between 1800 and 1860

The United States experienced some of its most significant changes to its culture, economy and political system between the years 1800 and 1860. During this essential and pivotal period of US history, many reforms and revolutions took place which changed the landscape of the life in the United States forever. Economically, the United States developed a successful industrial based economy in the North, thereby deepening the divide between the economic systems of the North and South. Culturally, the period between 1800 and 1860 was marked by religious revivals across the United States and many new reform movements such as those of abolitionism, female suffrage, workers’ rights and temperance. Finally, the political landscape of the United States also changed in the early to mid-19th century, as new political parties emerged and largely were separated over issues such as the role of the federal government in internal improvements to fuel industry.

From an economic perspective, likely the most important change which occurred during the early to mid-19th century was the emergence of an industrial North. While previously the whole of the US had a largely agrarian system – with Southerners using plantations and Northerners using small family farms – the switch of the North to an economic system largely based on industrial production changed the economic landscape of the United States greatly. By switching to an industrial economy, the output of the North became distinct from that of the South. Prices also decreased dramatically, since new technology increased production speed and required expertise of the laborers. With the increase in industrial production, large amounts of new resources were required, amongst which were canals and railroads to quickly transport produce across the nation. Together, the shift from the North to an industrial economy and its embrace of new infrastructure and technologies shows the magnitude of changes which occurred on the economic side of the United States between 1800 and 1860.

Culturally, the United States had many new movements – both religious and secular – which came to define the nation and continue to define the United States today. Religious revivals became a key new cultural aspect in the early and mid-19th century, and the results of these revivals are hard to overestimate. New Christian denominations were established rapidly with aims of becoming more fervent followers of the Christian religion, and an increased sense of connection with God was a key aspect of cultural change in the early and mid-19th century. The religious revivals quickly became a center of community life, and people began to become more intense followers of their religion. Another key aspect of cultural development which occurred between 1800 and 1860 was in the artistic and literary areas. Through the movement of Romanticism, many new ideas – such as those of the transcendentalist movement – were expressed in literary and artistic form, and these continue to define modern American culture, hinting at their great significance. Revolutionary American authors such as Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau established a literary tradition during this time which showcases and supports the idea of the scale of change which occurred in the 1800s to 1860s in terms of culture. Finally, the scores of reform movements in the early and mid-19th century indicate a final aspect of the great cultural change occurring in this time period. Women were not willing to always be classified as being lower than men, and slaves were no longer willing to be treated as property and wanted to be free, thereby disrupting the long-standing cultural beliefs and hierarchies present in American society. New reform movements such as those of women suffrage, abolitionism, temperance and countless others mark key examples of cultural changes which occurred between 1800 and 1860. Religious revivals, a new surge of artistic creativity and the many reform movements intended to improve society all mark key elements of the cultural change which occurred between 1800 and 1860 in the United States.

The political landscape of the United States underwent great alterations between 1800 and 1860 with the rise of new political parties and different political ideologies, systems and methods encouraged by various leaders and parties. With the emergence of large distinctions between the agrarian system of the South and the industrial economy of the North, different political parties were required to balance interests of each group which often were conflicting. As a result, politicians and presidents were forced to take sides to meet specific political agendas of different regions. The emergence of a political system with different parties marks an important change in the political landscape of the United States between 1800 and 1860. The Marbury v. Madison ruling by the Supreme court shows us the growth of the power of the judiciary branch of the federal government, and other rulings act to show us the increasing power of the federal government over the states. In addition to the changes regarding political parties, many new changes emerged due to decisions made by both of the parties regarding policies for the nation. Since the parties favored by Southerners believed more strongly in states’ individual rights, whilst those favored by Northerners often had a stronger federal aspect and believed in internal improvements (such as transportation) which could be funded by the government, different political parties each influenced the role which the government played in the individual lives of people. While political parties which were supported by Southerners often encouraged slavery in new territories, those supported by Northerners instead discouraged the spread of slavery, encouraged protective tariffs and helped fund new methods of transportation through the new nation to help the growing Northern industrial economy thrive. Each of these actions changed and questioned the extent of the scope which different branches of the government – and the government in general – could encompass. The emergence of new political parties, their various decisions and the changes within the government all act to show the changes occurring in the US in terms of politics between 1800 and 1860.

In conclusion, the United States between 1800 and 1860 was marked by economic, cultural and political change. Economically, the North and South grew further apart, as the North became an industrial powerhouse and the South remained with its agrarian way of life. From a cultural perspective, religious revival, a flourishing of art and literature through the romanticist movement and scores of reform movements came together to truly shape American culture forever. Finally, the political landscape of the US also underwent tremendous changes, as new political parties were introduced to meet new agendas of different regions of the United States, political parties changed the scope of the government as a whole, and internal changes within the government changed how it ruled the country.