U.S. History Chapter 13: Industrial Growth in the North Section 2: Changes in Working Life

Factory Families Samuel Slater couldn’t find enough workers Used apprentices Menial tasks Samuel Slater

Samuel Slater couldn’t find enough workers

Used apprentices

Menial tasks

Factory Families Hired entire families Children worked for low wages Tasks simple enough for children

Hired entire families

Children worked for low wages

Tasks simple enough for children

Factory Families Adults earned in one day what children earned in a week Rhode Island System —practice of hiring families an dividing factory work into simple tasks

Adults earned in one day what children earned in a week

Rhode Island System —practice of hiring families an dividing factory work into simple tasks

The Lowell System Francis Cabot Lowell: built a water-powered loom that could weave thread and spin cloth on the same mill Hired young, unmarried women from local farms Francis Cabot Lowell

Francis Cabot Lowell: built a water-powered loom that could weave thread and spin cloth on the same mill

Hired young, unmarried women from local farms

The Lowell System Noted for clean factories and neat boarding houses Women paid $2-$4/week 4 year stay

Noted for clean factories and neat boarding houses

Women paid $2-$4/week

4 year stay

The Lowell System Encouraged to pursue outside activities 12-14 hour workday Highly regimented workday Bigger, faster machines

Encouraged to pursue outside activities

12-14 hour workday

Highly regimented workday

Bigger, faster machines

Workers Organize Craftspeople threatened Factory worker wages decreased, work conditions worsened Immigration, unemployment due to Panic of 1837

Craftspeople threatened

Factory worker wages decreased, work conditions worsened

Immigration, unemployment due to Panic of 1837

Workers Organize Lowell girls replaced by immigrants Skilled workers felt threatened Trade Unions —organizations created by workers to improve working conditions

Lowell girls replaced by immigrants

Skilled workers felt threatened

Trade Unions —organizations created by workers to improve working conditions

End of Child Labor Worker Safety 40 Hour Work Week Increased Pay & Benefits

Workers Organize Strike —employees refuse to work until employers meet their demands Courts and police usually supported companies Became politically active

Strike —employees refuse to work until employers meet their demands

Courts and police usually supported companies

Became politically active

Labor Reform Efforts Sarah Bagley —union founder who publicized workers' struggles 1844: founded Lowell Female labor Reform Association Fought for shorter workday

Sarah Bagley —union founder who publicized workers' struggles

1844: founded Lowell Female labor Reform Association

Fought for shorter workday

Labor Reform Efforts 1840: President Martin Van Buren granted 10-hour workday to federal employees Bagley wanted this extended to the private sector 12-14 hour workday President Martin Van Buren

1840: President Martin Van Buren granted 10-hour workday to federal employees

Bagley wanted this extended to the private sector

12-14 hour workday

Labor Reform Efforts Opposed by business owners VP of new England Workingmen's’ Association Some legal victories Loopholes

Opposed by business owners

VP of new England Workingmen's’ Association

Some legal victories

Loopholes