In the 1800s, the United States was still a very young nation, trying to solidify its identity. The Industrial Revolution began
in Great Britain, a fast development of society following the introduction of machines. The United States was slower than Great Britain to fully embrace the changes. Yet key technological developments caused a rapid growth in American urban areas. Better farming methods and tools in the 1800s increased food production. Americans were able to grow enough food for their families as well as to sell. The abundance caused food prices to fall. The expansion of cotton and the growth of textile factories in northern states helped produce the first wave of American industry. More people turned to work in northern factories as a way to support their families. Thousands of immigrants to the United States also settled in or near port cities, looking for work. Even today, the need for work is a common reason people move to urban areas. As a result, cities grew in numbers of people and physical space. As more people and businesses moved in, they needed buildings for living and working. They needed ways to move around the city. We call this process urbanization. In 1820, the United States had only a few cities of 10,000 residents or more. About seven percent of U.S. residents lived in urban areas. The number of cities with more than 10,000 people grew quickly over the next 40 years, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. By 1860, about 20 percent lived in cities. Philadelphia and New York City were the most populated cities in 1860 and would soon reach one million residents. The urbanization of the United States quickened due to technology improvements. Without innovations in food production, the factories could not have grown so quickly. The trend quickened after 1860 and continued throughout the 21st century as well. By 2007, more Americans lived in or near cities than they did in rural areas. Select a sentence from the body of this article that can be removed without affecting the author's explanation. Place the sentence in quotes and explain why it is an unnecessary detail.
Alliancesagreements made with other nations to aid and support each otherneutralitynot supporting or helping either side in a conflict - a major part of George Washington's foreign policyisolationismavoiding alliances with other countries - another major part of George Washington's foreign policyJay Treaty (1794)the British finally agreed to pull their troops from the Ohio Valleymerchant shipsnon-military trading shipstributemoney given to someone in exchange for that person's protectionXYZ Affairattempt by the French government to bribe the American governmentprivateersprivately owned ships used for military purposes"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!"American slogan commonly heard during and after the XYZ AffairFrench navy attacking U.S. merchant shipswhat John Adams was trying to stop during the XYZ AffairPresident John Adamshe avoided war with France but it weakened him politicallyNapoleon "Dynamite" BonaparteFrench leader who made peace with the U.S. in 1800 and ended France's alliance with the U.S.attacks on American merchant shipsthe core issue that caused American anger toward Great Britain and France in the early 1800s<span>impressment</span>
It was Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. It became a sanctuary for Huguenots, the French Calvinists, who suffered persecution in France, and also for Jews who had flown from Spain and Portugal where their options were to convert or to be burned. There they could settle and worship. Jews invested in the local stock market and opened synagogues in Amsterdam.
The spoils system involves political activity by public employees in support of their party and the employees' removal from office if their party loses the election. The Spoils System led abuses of political power designed to benefit and enrich the ruling party.
