Changes In American Life From 1790 To 1840

Changes in American Life from 1790 to 1840 The period between 1790 and 1840 marked significant changes in American culture and society. Between significant events that caused major change, gradual cultural evolution was constantly occurring. Social pressures, technological advancements, and the democratization of various customs of life spurred these changes. Before 1800, it was common for both adults and children to drink alcohol primarily. People used it as a mid-day energizer and in many cases, considered it a social necessity. Consumption increased in the years following the Revolution. The subsequent increase in violence and drunkenness resulted in a push first for the reduction of, and later the end of, alcohol consumption. Large numbers of people chose to abstain due to the persuasion of the American Temperance Society; the exceptions were the Southern and Western parts of the country. In the 1820s and 30s, consumption of tea, coffee, and
Hydropower oftentimes powered factories and mills. For the most part, human power or draft animals provided agricultural labor. However, the invention of the cotton gin in 1793 allowed for the easy removal of seeds from cotton, permitting an increase in growth and processing. The beginning of the textile manufacturing in New England resulted in an abundance of inexpensive cloth available in stores. The workforce of these factories consisted of young rural women who went to work for several years before marrying. Because of this mass production, people no longer had to produce clothing materials by hand, saving large amounts of time or money. Outside of isolated areas with no access to stores, these massive implementation of foreign technologies meant few people had to produce their own cloth. The greater availability of clothing materials meant homemakers produced more clothing; the amount of domestic work did not