Question 1

Why did the emancipation of slaves proceed very slowly in the northern states during and after the Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The northern states gave priority to slaveholders' property rights so that emancipation often was spaced out over several slave generations. Many northern states offered gradual emancipation laws, which mandated that enslaved individuals born after a certain date would eventually be freed. However, these laws often did not apply to enslaved individuals already living in the state, and their freedom was often not immediate. Additionally, slaveholders were often compensated for the loss of their property, further delaying the process of emancipation.

Question 2

Which of the following statements describes transportation in the trans-Appalachian West in the early nineteenth century?

Accepted Answer

Water transport was indeed the quickest and cheapest method for moving goods to market in the early nineteenth century, especially in the trans-Appalachian West. Rivers like the Mississippi and Ohio played crucial roles in the economy, facilitating the movement of agricultural products and other goods.

Question 3

Which slaves became free as a result of the Virginia legislature's passage of a manumission act in 1782?

Accepted Answer

The Virginia legislature's passage of a manumission act in 1782 allowed masters to choose to free their slaves, so the only slaves who became free were those whose masters chose to free them.

Question 4

How did the appearance of canals and steamboats in the United States affect the flow of goods and information during the 1830s?

Accepted Answer

The introduction of canals and steamboats significantly reduced travel and communication time, facilitating faster movement of goods and information, which contributed to economic growth.

Question 5

In the first half of the nineteenth century,American manufacturers' main advantage over the British mills was that they had access to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

American manufacturers had access to more abundant natural resources compared to British mills, which was a significant advantage in the first half of the nineteenth century.

Question 6

Which of the following statements characterizes the operations of the Bank of the United States in the twenty years after its 1791 chartering?

Accepted Answer

The statement that the bank had branches in eight major cities and had an average profit of 8 percent annually characterizes the bank's operations as successful and profitable. Option A is incorrect because Jeffersonian Republicans were strongly opposed to the Bank of the United States and worked to have its charter expire. Option C is partially correct, as the bank did serve as a central clearinghouse, but it did not have the power to prevent states from issuing paper currency. Option D is also incorrect, as the bank consistently made a profit and did not require operating subsidies from the federal government to survive.

Question 7

The Panic of 1819 caused which of the following outcomes?

Accepted Answer

The Panic of 1819 led to a significant drop in the prices of American cotton and wheat, among other commodities, due to a sudden collapse in demand following a post-Napoleonic Wars economic boom. This was a direct consequence of the broader economic downturn.

Question 8

On what basis did the U.S.government base its claim that the commonwealth system was consistent with republican ideology?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. government believed that the commonwealth system, where state governments played an active role in supporting private businesses, contributed to the greater public good. This was seen as consistent with republican ideology, which values the common good over individual interests.

Question 9

The transformation that occurred as American factories and farms turned out more goods,and merchants and legislators created faster and cheaper ways to get those products to consumers,was known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Market Revolution is the best choice as it accurately describes the transformation that occurred in America during this time. This period marked a shift from traditional economies to a more commercial and industrialized system, with increased productivity, transportation innovations, and the expansion of markets. The other options, such as the Consumer Revolution, Technological Revolution, and Economic Revolution, do not fully capture the comprehensive changes that took place during this time.

Question 10

Which of these describes the experiences of the young women who worked in the New England textile mills in the 1820s and 1830s?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these describes the experiences of...

Question 11

Which of the following statements characterizes the emergence of the textile industry in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The emergence of the textile industry in the United States was characterized by the use of British textile machinery as a model by American textile producers who built their own textile mills in New England, ultimately improving on British technology. American mills were able to adapt to local conditions and innovate to create their own machinery and techniques, leading to the growth and success of the industry.

Question 12

How did the federal government aid the growth of American industry in the first half of the nineteenth century?

Accepted Answer

The federal government aided the growth of American industry by passing protective tariffs, which helped American manufacturers by making imported goods more expensive and less competitive compared to domestic products.

Question 13

Which of the following describes the new industrial system that developed in early nineteenth-century America?

Accepted Answer

The new industrial system in early nineteenth-century America brought workers together under one roof in a factory, which was a major change from the previous system of rural outwork. This allowed for greater efficiency and production at a faster pace.

Answer: B
 The new industrial system did not immediately replace the rural outwork system, but it gradually became more prevalent as factories grew more common and dominant.

Answer: C
 The new industrial system did make it harder for unions to organize, but it did not completely eliminate the possibility. In fact, unions did form and fight for workers' rights.

Answer: D
 The new industrial system was not opposed by everyone, but it did face criticism for its pollution and negative impact on the environment.

Question 14

The construction of the Erie Canal had which of the following negative consequences?

Accepted Answer

The construction of the Erie Canal and its heavy use altered the ecology of the entire region. The canal disrupted ecosystems and caused environmental damage, including deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat loss.

Question 15

In the 1824 U.S.Supreme Court case Gibbons v.Ogden,the Marshall Court's decision

Accepted Answer

The Marshall Court's decision in the Gibbons v. Ogden case overturned a New York law that granted a monopoly on steamboat travel into New York City. The Court ruled that the federal government had the power to regulate interstate commerce, which included navigation, and that state laws that conflicted with federal law were unconstitutional. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 16

John Jacob Astor,a prominent New York merchant of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries,made his fortune in which trade?

Accepted Answer

John Jacob Astor made his fortune in the fur trade, specifically in beaver pelts. He established the American Fur Company, which became one of the largest fur trading companies in the United States.

Question 17

For which of the following reasons did New York's state government fund the building of the Erie Canal in 1817?

Accepted Answer

The Erie Canal was funded by the state government of New York in 1817 to link the Hudson River with the Great Lakes. This was seen as a way to increase trade and commerce by providing a direct water route from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 18

Why did Congress approve funds for the construction of the National Road in 1806?

Accepted Answer

Congress approved funds for the construction of the National Road in 1806 to link midwestern settlers to the seaboard states. This would improve transportation and communication between the western territories and the established states on the East Coast.

Question 19

Which of the following statements describes the American Waltham plan,which was later known as the Lowell System?

Accepted Answer

The American Waltham plan, later known as the Lowell System, recruited farm girls and women to work in factories.

Question 20

By the 1830s,coal and metal manufacturers increasingly used which of the following to run machinery?

Accepted Answer

During the 1830s, coal and metal manufacturers increasingly used steam engines to run machinery. Steam engines were more powerful and efficient than water wheels or windmills, and allowed for greater productivity in factories. Hand power was also commonly used, but was less efficient and required more labor.

Quiz 8: Economic Transformations, 1800-1848