The Market Revolution: Economic and Social Transformation Essay

This essay examines the Market Revolution in the United States, spanning from 1800 to the 1840s, and its profound impact on American society. It details the shift from rural, agrarian lifestyles to industrial and factory-based work, driven by economic, political, and cultural changes. The essay explores the background of the revolution, including population growth, territorial expansion, and the role of the government in infrastructure and trade. It highlights the significance of transportation and technological advancements, such as roads, railways, canals, and the cotton gin, which revolutionized commerce and agriculture. The essay further analyzes the transformation of labor, particularly for women and industrial workers, and the emergence of distinct social classes. It concludes by emphasizing the revolution's impact on market transactions, offering new opportunities and freedoms while also leading to social inequalities.

Running head: MARKET REVOLUTION
MARKET REVOLUTION
Student’s Name
University Name
Author note

1MARKET REVOLUTION
Introduction
The market revolution in 1800 and in the 1840s, in the United States saw a drastic change
in the market, there has been a series of gradual transformation where the American citizens no
longer lived in village or rural areas as artisan workers or small yeoman farmers but instead they
started to work in the factories and the industries (Foner, Eric, 2011) The revolution in the
market took place between the American revolution and the Civil war, it occurred as a result of
sweeping economic, political as well as cultural changes. It affects the ways in which the people
live today. The purpose of this essay to explore the market revolution that took place in 1800 and
1840s and the ways in which the market revolution changes the ways in which people live today.
Background
During the 18th century, there has a dramatic increase in the population along with the
expansion of territory in the American economy. The economy was led by the Republican Party
and it was believed that the federal government of the country had to play a huge role in
regulating the expansion of the country’s infrastructure, trade and money(Foner, Eric, 2011). The
focuses of the government on infrastructure brought in two major revolutions and lead to market
revolution; it includes transportation and technological revolutions. These are the two main
revolutions that took place in the 18th century(Larson, John Lauritz. 2015, pp- 4-7). There have
been advancements in the transportation systems, increase in the roads, railways, canals which
enabled the marketers and the country’s citizens to move the goods and services at a faster rate.
The revolution enabled the marketers to sell and buy goods and services in the eastern cities.
Further, due to the advancement of technology, the farmers and the workers of the industries has
been able to increase their productivity and enhance their performance in the industries and their

2MARKET REVOLUTION
workplace (Larson, John. 2015 pp- 41-59). These are few of the changes which revolutionized
the market scenario and brought significant transformation in the American economy.
The market revolution
The commercial agriculture and domestic manufacturing were two of the most crucial
sectors of the American economy(Martin, Scott 2015). The cotton gin had revolutionized the
cotton industry in the South. The cotton gin, a machine to separate the cotton fibers from their
seeds revolutionized the cotton industry. The job was performed by the slaves painstakingly by
hand(Foner, Eric, 2008 p-330). This helped the farmers to gain huge profits from the invention
of cotton gin. It freed the slaves and the workers from manual and tiring work with low pay.
Along with the new generation of leaders, the principles of government activism were embraced
by the Republican Party.
The industrialization and the revolution led to radical changes in the life of the American
citizens. Previously, the industrial workers especially the women and large class of the females
were destined to the state of servitude. They had turned into ‘slaves to ignorance’ (Foner, Eric,
2011 p-166). The industrial revolutions and the towns including Waltham and Lowell provided
opportunities for the women to experience a new form of life. The industrial workers and the
women workers in the industries were relished into their new freedom. Before the industrial
revolutions had taken place, the workers were exposed to dangerous working situations and poor
working conditions with very little wages and lack of job security(Foner, Eric, 2011).The
industrial workers had started questioning the basic fairness in the industries, which in turn led to
organized protests, worker strikes of this era. After the market revolution, the world of the work
had been reorganized fundamentally.

3MARKET REVOLUTION
The economic changes profoundly led to significant cultural and social changes and
transformations. There has been significant formation of distinct classes due to rapid
industrialization especially in the North(Foner, Eric, 2011). This has been considered to be one
of the most striking developments. The workers life had been reorganized fundamentally. The
rapid rate of industrialization was one of the most important developments in that era. There has
been economic shift in America which had led to new class divisions due to unknown economic
and social inequalities. This unequal distribution of newly created wealth led to new divisions in
the class lines (Foner, Eric, 2011 p-168).
The American freedom continued to be shaped by presence of slavery (Foner,
Eric, 2008 p-331). However, there had been a new mindset of most Americans in the local
market. The neighbors began to exchange goods and service with the neighbors. The market
transaction had been governed by the local standards. Therefore, it can be said that lucrative and
distant markets were accessible, it broke free from the traditional ways of transactions (Foner,
Eric, 2008 p-330). There had been a freedom from the traditional economic relationships, in
order words, it meant freedom from the old traditional approaches of a particular individuals
living. The producers aimed to provide reasonable comfort for their own self as well as their
families in terms of increasing their yields. The farmers focused on planting variety of crops and
focused on their efforts to generate surplus and attain self sufficiency along with maximizing
cash returns. Further, the craftsmen and the artisans hired workers while operating in small
shops; this enabled them to increase sales and profit. Industrialization enhanced the availability
of adequate work payment for the women at home which contributed towards family income
(Foner, Eric, 2008 chapter 9, p-364)

4MARKET REVOLUTION
Conclusion
Therefore the market revolution had completely changed that ways in which the people
performed their market transactions. The revolution transformed that traditional approach of
marketing and the goals and the objectives were applied in the working procedure. The
craftsmen and the farmers were transformed into business men and there have been alterations in
the buyer seller as well as the employee employer relationships. It offered new opportunities and
increased freedom is every sector. This transform communication ensured freedom from the
traditional economic relationship and traditional approaches. It helped to anchor the
Communities and contributed highly towards social stability. However, there have been
consequences; large operations implied diminishing opportunities for unskilled workers. It can
be concluded that market revolution brought freedom to the industrial workers, provided new
opportunities along with social stability.

5MARKET REVOLUTION
References
Foner, Eric, ed. Voices of freedom: A documentary history. Vol. 1. WW Norton & Company
Incorporated, 2008.
Foner, Eric. "Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History, vol. 1." New York and London: WW
Norton & Company 2011.
Larson, John Lauritz. "The market revolution in early America: An introduction." OAH
Magazine of History 19, no. 3 (2015): 4-7.
Larson, John. "The Market Revolution." A Companion to the Civil War and
Reconstruction (2015): 41-59.
Martin, Scott C., ed. Cultural change and the market revolution in America, 1789-1860.
Rowman & Littlefield, (2015).