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The history of the world economy - Polyak GB

23.2. US economic growth in the first half of the XIX century.

Expansion of the territory

Not having to get rid of colonial rule, the US government began to implement the policy of the widest territorial expansion. New districts were joined through the conclusion of unequal treaties, trade transactions, by direct military violence and conquest. The structure of the United States entered Louisiana (1803), Florida (1819). In 1823. US proclaimed "Monroe doctrine", according to which any interference with the European countries in the American case was seen as a threat to the US. Thus, the United States had an opportunity to unleash wars of conquest against Mexico. Followed by the following seizures and attachment: Texas (1845), New Mexico (1849), Upper California (1848), Oregon (1846). In the first half of the XIX century. US territory has increased in 3,5 times 4. Expanding its territory, the United States pursued a policy of systematic extermination and displacement on the worst land of indigenous people of the continent the Indians. Indian rights were violated, and concluded treaties with them, inciting hatred between the Indian tribes. Any Indians suppressed the protests, killing tribal leaders, killed whole tribes. So lost tribe teal, which took their alphabet, school, printing houses and newspapers. Opening their territory deposits of gold, US government ousted teal in their assigned reservation far in the West. When relocation killed 4 thousand Indians -. That path went down in history as the "Trail of Tears."

Backwardness and fragmentation of the Indian tribes, of course, facilitated territorial expansion Americans.

It should be noted that the constant wars in Europe contributed to the rapid growth of American capitalism. USA, was located across the ocean, in these wars were not involved, and therefore avoid large expenditures on the army, the military did not know the devastation and received income from trade with all warring nations of Europe. By supplying them with weapons and supplies, American capitalists greatly enriched.

Population

As a result of territorial expansion to the middle of the XIX century. the number of staff has increased - from 13 to 30. The territorial expansion led to an important demographic changes: the rapid growth of population, its active migration to the West and the gradual urbanization. About population rates the following data: in 1790 in the United States lived 3.9 million people, in 1860 - already 31.4 million people.... This means that every 25 years the population doubled - no country in the world did not know of such population growth.

The increase in population was due to external factors (natural growth) and external (the influx of immigrants and the importation of slaves). The presence of a huge land fund was attractive force for the influx of immigrants from Europe. In addition the government encouraged immigration as a growing economy in need of labor. Among the immigrants were hundreds of thousands of skilled craftsmen, engineers, workers, inventors. For the 1821- 1860 biennium. It arrived more than 5 million. immigrants, mainly from Ireland, Germany, England, in the United States. In addition to the creation of the army of hired labor mass immigration and population growth have contributed to the creation of a large domestic market, which, in turn, led to an increase in demand for industrial goods, ie It served as a stimulus for the development of production.

As noted, the originality of American capitalism was to use along with wage labor and forced labor (servent and Negro slaves). Slaves were the main productive force in the southern states. Since in 1808 the importation of slaves was prohibited by law, they were smuggled - up to 15 thousand per year.. The cost of slaves increased, and in 1800 a law was passed, according to which a private person could have sold 320 acres, and in 1804 - 160 acres. Although under these conditions it was not possible to eliminate speculation, but the land has become more accessible to farmers. Already in 1820 the size of the land sold was reduced to 80 acres, and the price - 2 to $ 1.25 per acre.. planters especially the "divorce" of slaves for sale. In 1850, the total number of blacks was 3.5 million.

Changing demographics put in urbanization. The deepening social division of labor led to the growth of the urban population. Cities became centers of industry and commerce. The share of urban population increased from 5% in 1790 to 20% in 1860. The process of formation of urban centers in the United States different from Europe. While in other countries, industrial centers inhabited by landlessness villagers in America - at the expense of industrial and handicraft items from an immigrant background. Major US cities have become New York, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, St. Louis and others.

The development of agriculture

In the first half of the XIX century. the main branch of agriculture was in the US economy. Among the factors that determine the development of this sphere of the economy, were the following: the colonization of the West, the use of slave labor, specialization areas.

At the beginning of the XIX century. Government to hold democratic measures to facilitate the conditions for the purchase of land declared state. So, in 1832 the size of the land sold was reduced to 40 acres. A system has been allowed free homestead settlers, colonists, sanctioned by the government in 1841, the law on Zaimka. In accordance with this law, the pre-emptive right to buy a plot of virgin land was the one who took and processed. In 1854, the law allowed the sale of land of little use if they are not sold within 30 years.

In areas of intensive settlement in the Northwest Territory has developed the production of maize, to dominate. It specialized in extensive animal husbandry (especially pig). The development of the area has led to a significant production of wheat, which has acquired a leading role in the second quarter of XIX century. In mid-century states such as Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, turned into barns. In a competitive Atlantic Coast farms specialized in dairy farming, horticulture and gardening.

Profile northeastern states - intensive agriculture, to supply the growing industrial centers.

In the first half of the XIX century. Southern states have specialized in the cultivation of cotton. In this period there is a huge increase in cotton production, provided extensive way through the development of new areas of the South and South-West, and their predatory exploitation. United States transformed into a world of raw cotton producer. Their share, which amounted in 1791 0.4% of world production, has risen to 66% in 1860. The expansion of the world cotton market has stimulated the growth of the production of raw materials in the United States. During the first half of the XIX century. it increased to 23 times. At the same time up to 40-ies of XIX century. Cotton is mainly exported abroad, and then increased its processing within the country, although it remained the main item of US exports (in 1860 g.- more than 57%). Due to the currency of the country were provided with cotton receipts.

Despite extensive land fund, the struggle for land between farmers and planters aggravated. The stumbling block was slavery. In some states, slavery was prohibited. With the formation of new states on the slavery question arose again and again. In search of solution to the problem in 1820 he was awarded the so-called Missouri Compromise, under which slavery did not extend beyond 36 ° 30 'north latitude. However, runaway slaves could find and return the former owner, and according to the law in 1850 this would have involved the very people and authorities.

Slave system brought high income country: cotton at high prices existed the world market, and slave labor was paid cheap.

The US is actively formed farmers' way of development of agriculture - with the use of hired labor and machinery. It was called the American path of capitalist development in agriculture. By 1860, the US had more than 2.4 million. Farmers, about 200 thousand. Farmhands. In agriculture, the country applied to 250 thousand. Reaping machines.

The simultaneous existence of the capitalist economy in the North and the South and slavery was the cause of conflict between these systems led to the Civil War.