What was Boston like in the 1830's?

Answer 1

In 1822, Boston had officially become a city. But it was not like the modern city we see today with many hospitals and universities. In the early 1830s, Boston was still much smaller than New York or Philadelphia-- there were about 62,000 residents, most of whom lived in or near the city because there were still no paved roads. Boston was dominated by upper-class white Protestants: many of the city's leaders were concentrated in the financial district, near the waterfront. City Hall and the State House were also not far from the waterfront, which was very important to the economy. In an era before transcontinental travel by railroad, Boston still relied on its harbor, which provided goods from overseas. Shop-keepers and merchants eagerly awaited the arrival of new merchandise, while the city leaders sometimes received visits from European dignitaries, who came by ship. Those Bostonians who were not wealthy or members of the upper class still worked in or near the city, since it was a center of population. The average person worked in one of the various skilled trades (blacksmith, shoemaker, dressmaker, etc), or engaged in farming.

Boston in the 1830s had a number of Protestant churches; but there were perhaps one or two Jewish families (and no synagogues yet), and not many Catholics lived there either. That would not change till the 1840s-1850s, when the beginnings of a massive wave of immigrants from Europe and Scandinavia arrived. But something important occurred in the mid-1830s, and it brought a number of changes to Boston: in 1835, the first steam-powered railroads made their debut. This meant that people in Boston could much more quickly and easily get to other parts of the state or other parts of the east to do business, or to visit friends. Improvements in transportation also meant that people from far away or rural portions of Massachusetts could now get to the "big city" to seek work or sell their goods.

Answer 2

Boston was a bustling town and making good economic progress. It had the benefit of manufacturing, mostly textile mills. Additionally, it was a key seaport and fishing was a large industry. The people were enjoying their freedom from England as well. One social issue existed mostly among the wealthier classes. That issue was slavery. Abolitionism was a strong issue in Boston and in New England as well. Another aspect of Boston and New England was that cotton for the textile mills was inexpensive due to the slave labor that produced it.

Answer 3

In 1830 Boston was transformed to a cosmopolitan center. It became international trading port. Products like rum, fish and tobacco were exported from Boston.