Running head: UNITING THE NATION: ECONOMIC GROWTH1
Uniting the Nation: Economic Growth
Chey Burrows
HST 201 – U.S. History I
Colorado State University – Global Campus
Dr. Lise Namikas
January 22, 2019
UNITING THE NATION: ECONOMIC GROWTH 2
Uniting the Nation: Economic Growth
The dramatic movements in economic growth in American began in the early 19
th
century
because of several different factors. One, after the War of 1812, the British were no longer
interfering with American shipping which opened a new door for more markets and new
industries [Shi]. Another factor that fed into economic growth was the change in energy and
optimism after the war and the efforts of people willing to take more risks. People were opening
mills, thinking of strategies to increase productivity, and venturing into new opportunities; all of
which led to the significant changes in transportation, communication, and agricultural
production.
Changes in Transportation
A transformation in the American economy began before the war of independence and
continued after. The economy transformed from a standard household economy to a modern
market economy which gave Americans opportunities for economic gain and movement. With
the change of economy to a modern market economy, a need for a national transportation system
was in order. Better roads, waterways, railroads, and ocean transportation were the top of the
priority list to create a revolutionized transportation system. Before the beginning of the 19
th
century, traveling in America was slow, uncomfortable, and expensive [Shi]. As settlers began to
move west, better roads became more of a focus. In 1795, the Wilderness Road was opened to
