In the context of APUSH (Advanced Placement U.S. History), commercial development usually refers to the growth and expansion of trade, markets, and business enterprises in American history. It focuses on how commerce and economic activity shaped the social, political, and regional development of the United States.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Colonial Era
- Trade with Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean (e.g., triangular trade, mercantilism).
- Colonies developed specialized economies (New England: shipping and trade; South: cash crops like tobacco and rice).
- Early Republic (Post-Revolution)
- Growth of domestic markets and regional specialization.
- Infrastructure improvements (roads, canals) to support trade.
- Emergence of commercial centers like New York and Philadelphia.
- Market Revolution (Early 19th Century)
- Rapid expansion of commerce and industry.
- Development of factories, mechanized production, and wage labor.
- Expansion of banking and credit systems.
- Transportation revolution: steamboats, canals, and railroads made trade faster and cheaper.
- Late 19th and Early 20th Century
- Rise of big business, trusts, and monopolies.
- Expansion of national and international markets.
- Urbanization driven by commercial opportunities.
- Impact on Society
- Shift from subsistence farming to market-oriented economy.
- Growth of the middle class and wage labor.
- Regional tensions due to different economic priorities (e.g., industrial North vs. agricultural South).
In APUSH, commercial development is often tied to themes like economic transformation, industrialization, and the Market Revolution. It’s about how commerce shapes society, politics, and daily life in U.S. history.
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