What was happening when Melville was writing Moby Dick?

Moby Dick takes place in the 1840's and starts out in New York City, then continues on to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and then moves to Nantucket, which is where the voyage starts. Then later it is out to sea on the whaling ship, the Pequod.

1840's

-The first successful telegraph was developed by Samuel Morse. This invention sped up communication overseas.

-A women right's program, the Seneca Falls Convention was led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott and the Declaration of Sentiments was created.

-There was high use of whale oil. This is why whale hunting was big around this era, many were dependent on the oil of the sperm whale.

-The Industrial Revolution was taking place.