Early America Dbq

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Transportation and technology greatly affected America throughout history. America was "born" in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed and it became free of British rule. New inventions began to arise as population grew and the need for technology did as well. In the 1700s and 1800s, America was greatly affected by the creation of the railroads, canals, and cotton gins. Railroads were an innovative new technology that greatly affected America and provided transportation at a time where the only form of getting from place to place was by horse. In addition, it provided a means of transportation for goods and raw materials. "Railroad shipping costs were cheaper than roads, but not as cheap as canals." (Doc. 4) Railroads led to a population increase in industrialized western cities. Massive amounts of cargo were moved from the west to the east. "Raw materials were shipped from the west, processed in the Midwest, and shipped to eastern cities." (Doc.6) Railroads influenced the way America was able to transport people and goods. …show more content…
The cotton gin was made to easily remove the seeds from cotton, a process that normally took a long amount of time. With the invention of the cotton gin, cotton was made faster and became affordable. "The cotton gin also increased cotton production, the need for slaves, the price of slaves, and the value of the cotton crop." (Doc.2) Though there was a reduction in labor efforts needed to remove seeds, more slaves were needed to pluck cotton from the farm. The demand for land to grow more crops and slave labor also increased. "In 1790 there were six slave states; in 1860 there were 15." (Doc. 3a) More slaves were needed in order for the cotton industry to prosper, so the states started allowing slavery as a way to do that. The cotton gin was good for the economy of America, but since the demand for slaves became so high, slavery boomed during this