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Industrial revolution

Overview

The Industrial Revolution was a time when the manufacturing of goods moved from small shops and homes to large
factories. This shift brought about changes in culture as people moved from rural areas to big cities in order to work.
It also introduced new technologies, new types of transportation, and a different way of life for many.

Where did the Industrial Revolution begin?

The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the late 1700s. Many of the first innovations that enabled the
Industrial Revolution began in the textile industry. Making cloth moved from homes to large factories. Britain also
had plenty of coal and iron which was important to power and make machines for the factories.

How long did it last?

The Industrial Revolution lasted for over 100 years. After beginning in Britain in the late 1700s it spread to Europe
and the United States. The Industrial Revolution can be divided into two phases:

First Industrial Revolution - The first wave of the Industrial Revolution lasted from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. It
industrialized the manufacture of textiles and began the move of production from homes to factories. Steam power
and the cotton gin played an important role in this period.

Second Industrial Revolution - The next wave took place from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. During this phase
large factories and companies began to use more technologies to mass produce goods. Important innovations during
this period include the use of electricity, the production line, and the Bessemer steel process.

When did it start in the United States?

The early part of the Industrial Revolution in the United States took place in the northeast in the New England
region. Many historians place the start of the Industrial Revolution with the opening of Slater's Mill in 1793 in
Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Samuel Slater had learned about textile mills growing up in England and brought his
knowledge to the United States. By the end of the 1800s, the United States had become the most industrialized
nation in the world.

Cultural Changes

The Industrial Revolution brought about many cultural changes. Before the revolution, most people lived in the
country and worked on farms. During the revolution, people moved to the cities to work in factories. Cities grew and
became overcrowded, unsanitary, and polluted. In many cities, poor workers lived in crowded and unsafe buildings.
This was a dramatic shift in the way of life for the average person.

Transportation

Transportation changed dramatically throughout the Industrial Revolution. Where before people travelled by horse,
walking, or boat; new ways of travel were introduced including railroads, steam boats, and automobiles. This
changed the way people and products were able to travel around the country and the world.

Working Conditions

One drawback of the Industrial Revolution was poor working conditions for people in factories. There were few laws
to protect workers at the time and working conditions were often dangerous. People often had to work long hours
and child labour was a common practice. By the end of the 1900s, labour unions and new laws began to create a
safer working environment.
Interesting Facts about the Industrial Revolution

Many early factories were powered by water so they had to be by a river that could turn the waterwheel.
A group of weavers in Britain who lost their jobs to large factories began to fight back by rioting and
destroying machinery. They became known as Luddites after one of their leaders Ned Ludd.
Printers were able to use steam power to print newspapers and books cheaply. This helped more people get
the news and learn how to read.
Some of the most important American inventions during the Industrial Revolution included the telegraph,
the sewing machine, telephone, cotton gin, the practical light bulb, and vulcanized rubber.
Manchester, England was the centre of the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution. It earned the
nickname "Cottonopolis."

How it began in the United States

The Industrial Revolution started in Great Britain in the late 1700s. It soon spread to the United States where it
changed the way products were made and how people worked and lived. The first part of the Industrial Revolution
in the United States took place in the Northeast.

Where did the Industrial Revolution first begin?

Many historians point to the opening of a textile mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1793 as the beginning of the
Industrial Revolution in the United States. The mill was founded by English immigrant Samuel Slater who had learned
how to operate a textile mill in England. Slater would later go on to open thirteen textile mills throughout the
region.

Textile Mills in Lowell, Massachusetts

Textile mills began to open throughout the northeast. In Massachusetts, a businessman named Frances Lowell
opened the first integrated textile mill in the United States. Unlike earlier mills, Lowell's mill also weaved the thread
into cloth. His mill incorporated all the steps to produce cloth from raw cotton in a single factory. Lowell's mill grew
to become one of the largest textile centers in the United States. They hired mostly women who became known as
the "Lowell Mill Girls." By 1840, around 8,000 workers worked in Lowell and most of them were women. These
women were also involved in early labor reform when they organized strikes in 1834 and 1836.

War of 1812

The War of 1812 had an impact on getting the Industrial Revolution started in the United States. After the war,
people realized that the country was too reliant on foreign goods. They felt that the United States needed to make
its own goods and to build better transportation.

Steamboat The steam engine was one of the most important new inventions of the Industrial Revolution. In 1807,
Robert Fulton developed the first commercially successful steamboat. This boat could travel upstream much faster
than previous forms of transportation. Steamboats greatly improved the transportation of goods and people. They
soon became one of the most important drivers of the Industrial Revolution in the United States.

Erie Canal

In 1825, the Erie Canal was completed between Lake Erie and the Hudson River. This opened up transportation
between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. This canal had a huge impact on how products could be shipped in
the Northeast.

The Industrial Revolution Continues

The Industrial Revolution began in the Northeast, but it eventually spread throughout much of the country by the
early 1900s. Large cities formed around factories and new technologies improved the production of goods,
transportation, and communications. The way of life for Americans was changed forever.

Interesting Facts about the Industrial Revolution in the United States

When Samuel Slater moved to the U.S., he actually broke laws in England that tried to prevent skilled
workers from leaving the country. He earned the nickname "Slater the Traitor" in England.
Lowell, Massachusetts became known as the "City of Spindles" during its peak in the mid-1800s.
Francis Lowell learned about textile mills when visiting England in 1810.
Communications was changed in America when Samuel Morse invented the electrical telegraph in 1837.

Inventions and Technology

New inventions and technologies played an important role in the Industrial Revolution. They changed the way things
were powered, how goods were manufactured, how people communicated, and the way goods were transported.
These new developments allowed the industrial revolution to grow rapidly and spread throughout Europe and the
United States

New Power Technologies

In the early part of the Industrial Revolution natural power sources such as water and wind were used as power.
Later, new power technologies such as a steam power and electricity played a major role in allowing the Industrial
Revolution to grow.

Steam Power

Steam power had been around for a while, but in 1781 James Watt invented a new type of steam engine that could
be used to power machines in factories. This allowed factories to be located anywhere. Throughout the 1800s steam
engines grew bigger and more powerful. They were used to not only power factories, but also in transportation to
power steamboats and trains.

Electricity Electricity

Became important during the Second Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. Electric lights allowed factories to stay
open longer and produce more goods.

Textile Technology

The Industrial Revolution began in the textile industry. One of the first major inventions was the "spinning jenny"
invented by James Hargreaves in England in 1764. In 1779, Samuel Crompton made improvements with the
"spinning mule." The Industrial Revolution began in the United States with the opening of Slater's Mill in 1793. Other
inventions included the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 and the sewing machine by Elias Howe in 1846.

Communications

The ability to communicate across long distances improved dramatically during the Industrial Revolution. It began
with the invention of the electrical telegraph by Samuel Morse in 1844. This system allowed for messages to be
transmitted much quicker and cheaper than old methods. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone
which changed the way people communicated forever.

Transportation

The Industrial Revolution brought about the need for improved transportation. Large amounts of goods needed to
be shipped from factories to stores throughout the country. One of the first successful steamboats was developed by
Robert Fulton in 1807. Steamboats were soon used to carry goods and passengers along rivers throughout the
United States. The steam locomotive was invented in the early 1800s. Trains became one of the most important
modes of transportation during the Industrial Revolution. The First Transcontinental Railroad across the United
States was completed in 1869.

Interesting Facts about Inventions and Technology during the Industrial Revolution

Englishman Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer process in 1856. It allowed for steel to be mass-
produced cheaply.
Thomas Edison invented the first practical incandescent light bulb in 1879.
Isaac Singer made improvements on the sewing machine and produced one of the first practical sewing
machines for home use.
In 1853, Elisha Otis invented a safety break for elevators. This allowed for the practical use of elevators
enabling buildings to be built much taller.
The Erie Canal was completed from Lake Erie to the Hudson River in 1825.

Steam Engine

The steam engine was one of the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution. Steam engines were used
in all sorts of applications including factories, mines, locomotives, and steamboats.

How does the steam engine work?

Steam engines use hot steam from boiling water to drive a piston (or pistons) back and forth. The movement of the
piston was then used to power a machine or turn a wheel. To create the steam, most steam engines heated the
water by burning coal.

Why was it important?

The steam engine helped to power the Industrial Revolution. Before steam power, most factories and mills were
powered by water, wind, horse, or man. Water was a good source of power, but factories had to be located near a
river. Both water and wind power could be unreliable as sometimes rivers could dry up during a drought or freeze
during the winter and wind didn't always blow. Steam power allowed for factories to be located anywhere. It also
provided reliable power and could be used to power large machines.

Who invented the steam engine?

One of the first steam engines was invented by Thomas Savery in 1698. It wasn't very useful, but other inventors
made improvements over time. The first useful steam engine was invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712. The
Newcomen engine was used to pump water out of mines. Steam power really took off with improvements made by
James Watt in 1778. The Watt steam engine improved the efficiency of steam engines considerably. His engines
could be smaller and use less coal. By the early 1800s, Watt steam engines were used in factories throughout
England

Where was the steam engine used?

Throughout the 1800s, steam engines were improved. They became smaller and more efficient. Large steam engines
were used in factories and mills to power machines of all types. Smaller steam engines were used in transportation
including trains and steamboats.

Are steam engines still used today?

The steam engine as we think of it from the Industrial Revolution was largely replaced by electricity and the internal
combustion engine (gas and diesel). Some old steam engines are still used in certain areas of the world and in
antique locomotives. However, steam power is still heavily used around the world in various applications. Many
modern electrical plants use steam generated by burning coal to produce electricity. Also, nuclear power plants use
steam generated by nuclear fusion to produce electricity.
Interesting Facts about the Steam Engine and the Industrial Revolution

The unit of power (the Watt) was named after inventor James Watt.
James Watt used the term "horsepower" to describe how much power his engine could produce. He used it
to compare his engine to the actual output of how much power horses could produce.
One horsepower is equal to 745.7 Watts.
The first successful commercial steamboat was the Clermont developed by Robert Fulton in 1807.

Factory System

The factory system was a new way of making products that began during the Industrial Revolution. The factory
system used powered machinery, division of labour, unskilled workers, and a centralized workplace to mass-produce
products.

What was there before the factory system?

Before the factory system products were made one at a time by individual workers. The work was generally
performed at a small workshop or at home. As machinery became larger and more expensive, factories formed
where business owners purchased the machines and hired workers to run them.

What makes up the factory system?

The factory system of the Industrial Revolution introduced new ways of making products. Products could be made
cheaper, faster, and in larger volume. Some of the key characteristics of the factory system include

Centralized workplace - Rather than have individual workers spread out in their homes and workshops, the factory
was a large central place where many workers came together to make products. Factories were necessary because
the machinery was expensive, large, needed power, and was operated by many workers.

Division of labour - The factory system introduced the division of labour. This is where different workers each have a
specific task in making the product. Each worker can specialize in one small task and doesn't have to know how to
make the entire product.

Unskilled workers - Because of the division of labour, many of the workers could be "unskilled" workers. They could
be taught one simple task that they would repeat over and over.

Standardized parts - Different parts of a product were standardized. This meant they were built the same way and to
the same measurements. This concept eventually led to interchangeable parts where individual parts could easily be
replaced and repaired

Woman and Children

Workers during the Industrial Revolution, women and children became an important part of the workforce. At first,
this was because they would work for low pay compared to men. Often the working conditions were poor and
dangerous. Eventually laws were passed to outlaw child labour.

Changes in Society

The factory system had a large impact on society. Before the factory system, most people lived on farms in the
countryside. With the formation of large factories, people began to move to the cities. Cities grew larger and
sometimes became overcrowded. This movement from a rural society to an urban society created a dramatic shift in
the way people lived.

Interesting Facts about the Factory System

In order to fight dangerous working conditions and long hours, workers began to form unions and strike.
Early factories used water for power and were usually located along a river. Later factories were powered by
steam and, eventually, electricity.
Many factories during the Industrial Revolution had dormitories on site where the workers lived.
Many factories use an "assembly line" where products move from workstation to workstation getting new
parts added at each station until the final product is complete.

Transportation

The Industrial Revolution completely changed the way people travelled and how goods were transported. Before the
Industrial Revolution, transportation relied on animals (like horses pulling a cart) and boats. Travel was slow and
difficult. It could take months to travel across the United States in the early 1800s.

Steamboats and Rivers

One of the best ways to travel and ship goods before the Industrial Revolution was the river. Boats could travel
downstream quite easily using the current. Traveling upstream was much more difficult, however. The problem of
traveling upstream was solved during the Industrial Revolution by the steam engine. In 1807, Robert Fulton built the
first commercial steamboat. It used steam power to travel upstream. Steamboats were soon used to transport
people and goods along rivers throughout the country.

Canals

In order to make better use of water transportation, canals were built to connect rivers, lakes, and oceans. The most
important canal built in the United States was the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal ran 363 miles and connected Lake Erie
to the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. It was completed in 1825 and became a source of commerce and travel
from the western states to New York.

Railroads

The invention of the railroad and the steam powered locomotive opened up a whole new world in transportation.
Now trains could travel wherever tracks could be built. Transportation was no longer limited to rivers and canals.
Starting around 1830, railroads began to be constructed in the eastern part of the United States. Soon they stretched
across the country with the First Transcontinental Railroad completed in 1869. Railroads changed the culture of the
United States and made the country seam much smaller. Before railroads, it could take months to travel across the
United States. California seemed like a different world from east coast cities like New York and Boston. By the 1870s,
a person could travel from New York to California in just a few days. Letters, goods, and packages could also be
transported much faster.

Roads

Even with steamboats and railroads, people still needed a better way to travel between rivers and train stations.
Before the Industrial Revolution, roads were often poorly maintained dirt roads. During the Industrial Revolution,
the government became more involved in building and maintaining good roads. A new process called the
"macadam" process was used to create smooth gravel roads.

Interesting Facts about Transportation during the Industrial Revolution

There was a boom in canal building in Britain in the early 1800s. By 1850, around 4,000 miles of canals had
been built in Britain.
The first public railway to use steam locomotives was the Stockton and Darlington Railway in northeast
England.
One of the first railroads built in the United States was the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O). The first
section of the railroad opened in 1830.
Boiler explosions were fairly common on steamboats. Mark Twain's brother, Henry Clemens, died after being
injured in a boiler explosion.
Erie Canal

The Erie Canal was one of the most important transportation routes in the early history of the United States. It
played a key role in both the Industrial Revolution and the Westward Expansion of the country.

How long is it?

The original Erie Canal ran about 363 miles from the city of Albany, New York (on the Hudson River) to the city of
Buffalo, New York (on Lake Erie). In 1918, it was expanded and became part of the 525 mile long New York State
Barge Canal.

When was it built? Construction began on the Erie Canal on July 4, 1817 in Rome, New York. It was completed eight
years later on October 26, 1825 at a cost of around $7 million.

Getting the Canal

Built Building such a long canal was a huge undertaking in the early 1800s. While some people thought the canal was
a good idea, other people were against it. They thought it would cost too much money to build and wouldn't be
worth it. For many years, DeWitt Clinton, the mayor of New York, fought to get the canal built. When the canal was
finally approved, many people nicknamed it "Clinton's Ditch." At first, building the canal was slow. It took a long time
to clear a path through the forests of New York and there weren't enough workers available. However, as new
immigrants arrived from Ireland to work on the canal and workers learned how to clear a path more quickly, the
construction sped up. When the canal was completed in 1825, it was one of the great engineering feats of the time.

Why was it important?

The canal formed an inexpensive way to transport goods and people between the Midwest of the United States and
East Coast. It shortened the travel time for immigrants moving to the Midwest. It also increased commerce in New
York and helped to make New York City the centre of commerce in the United States. It enabled raw materials to be
shipped from the centre of the country to the factories in the Northeast and also allowed manufactured goods to be
shipped to the growing Midwest.

The Erie Canal Today

By the late-1800s canals were overtaken by railroads as the most important form of transportation. However, the
Erie Canal is still used today by recreational watercraft. It has been enlarged several times to accommodate larger
boats and became part of the New York State Canal System in 1918.

CULTURE

Labour unions

Labour unions are large groups of workers, usually in a similar trade or profession, that join together to protect the
workers' rights. The Industrial Revolution was a time when national labour unions began to form in the United
States.

Why did labour unions first form?

During the Industrial Revolution, the working conditions in factories, mills, and mines were terrible. Unlike today, the
government took little interest in creating safety standards or in regulating how businesses treated workers. The
typical industrial employee worked long hours under dangerous conditions for little pay. Many workers were poor
immigrants who had little choice but to keep working despite the conditions. If an employee complained, they were
fired and replaced. At some point, workers began to revolt. They joined together and created unions in order to fight
for safer conditions, better hours, and increased wages. It was easy for factory owners to replace one employee who
complained, but much more difficult to replace all their employees if they went on strike together.

What did they do to make things better?


The unions organized strikes and negotiated with employers for better working conditions and pay. During the
Industrial Revolution this wasn't always a peaceful process. When employers tried to replace striking workers, the
workers sometimes fought back. In some cases, things became so violent that the government had to step in and
restore order.

The First Unions

In the early part of the Industrial Revolution most of the unions were smaller and local to a town or a state. After the
Civil War, national unions began to form. One of the first national unions was the Knights of Labour in the 1880s. It
grew rapidly, but just as quickly collapsed. The next major union to form was the American Federation of Labour
(sometimes called the AFL). The AFL was founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers. It became a powerful force in fighting
for workers' rights through strikes and through politics.

Major Strikes

There were several major strikes that took place during the Industrial Revolution. One of them was the Great
Railroad Strike of 1877. It began in Martinsburg, West Virginia after the B&O Railroad Company cut wages for the
third time in a year. The strike quickly spread throughout the country. When strikers tried to stop the trains from
running, federal troops were sent in to put down the strike. Things turned violent and several strikers were killed.
The strike ended 45 days after it started. Although the wages weren't restored, workers began to see the power they
had through the strike. Other famous strikes included the Homestead Steel Mill Strike of 1892 and the Pullman Strike
of 1894. Many of these strikes ended in violence and the destruction of property, but eventually they began to have
an impact on the workplace and conditions gradually improved.

Labour Unions Today

Throughout the 1900s, labour unions became a powerful force in the economy and politics. Today, labour unions
aren't as strong as they once were, however, they still play an important role in many industries. Some of the largest
unions today include the National Education Association (teachers), the Service Employees International Union, and
the Teamsters.

Working Conditions

The Industrial Revolution was a time of great progress. Large factories emerged that could mass produce goods at a
low price. People flocked from their farms in the country to the cities to work in factories, mills, and mines. Despite
such progress, life was not easy as a worker during the Industrial Revolution. Working conditions were poor and
sometimes dangerous.

Long Days

Unlike today, workers during the Industrial Revolution were expected to work long hours or they would lose their
jobs. Many workers had to work 12 hour days, six days a week. They didn't get time off or vacations. If they got sick
or were injured on the job and missed work, they were often fired.

Dangerous Work

A lot of the jobs during the Industrial Revolution were dangerous. There weren't any government regulations to help
protect workers. Workers sometimes had to work closely with powerful machines that had no safety features. It was
not uncommon to lose a finger or a limb. Workers in mines were subject to tiny tunnels that could easily collapse
and trap them underground.

Unsafe Facilities

A lot of the facilities where people worked were unsafe. Typically the lighting was bad making it difficult to see.
Many factories and mines were filled with dust that not only made it difficult to breathe, but could cause diseases
including cancer. Other places were unsafe fire hazards where they dealt with flammable chemicals or fireworks. The
smallest spark could set off a blaze or explosion.

Child Labour

A lot of factories used child labour in unsafe conditions. Factories hired children because they worked for low wages.
In some cases, they hired small children because they could get fit into places adults couldn't. Children were
subjected to the same long work weeks and poor conditions as adults. Many children were killed or got sick working
in factories.

Living Conditions

The living conditions in crowded cities weren't any better than the working conditions. As more and more people
moved into the cities, large slums formed. These places were dirty and unsanitary. Entire families sometimes lived in
a single room apartment. With people living so close, diseases spread rapidly and there was little medical care to
help them get well.

New Government Regulations

In the late stages of the Industrial Revolution, workers began to organize into unions in order to fight for better and
safer working conditions. The government also became involved. New regulations were imposed to shorten the
work week and to make factories safer. Today, the government keeps a close eye on businesses to make sure that
workers are safe.

Interesting Facts about Working Conditions during the Industrial Revolution

In 1860, the five story Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts collapsed killing an estimated 145
workers. The poorly constructed building had been packed to the upper floors with heavy machinery.

Factories were often very hot during the summer and freezing during the winter.
One of the first labour laws passed was the Factory Act of 1819 passed in Britain. It made it illegal to employ
children under 9 years old. It was seldom enforced, however.
As workers organized, they began to go on strike (not work) in order to demand better working conditions
and hours.
Some early laws actually made it illegal for workers to unionize.

Child Labour

During the Industrial Revolution poor children often worked full time jobs in order to help support their families.
Children as young as four years old worked long hours in factories under dangerous conditions. The practice of child
labour continued throughout much of the Industrial Revolution until laws were eventually passed that made child
labour illegal.

What types of jobs did children do? Children performed all sorts of jobs including working on machines in factories,
selling newspapers on street corners, breaking up coal at the coal mines, and as chimney sweeps. Sometimes
children were preferred to adults because they were small and could easily fit between machines and into small
spaces.

Did they make a lot of money? Another reason that businesses liked to hire children workers was because they
worked for little pay. In many cases, children weren't paid at all, but worked for their room and board. When they
did earn wages, children often earned 10 to 20 percent of what an adult would earn for the same job.

Why did they hire children? Some businesses hired children because they were cheap, worked hard, and could do
some jobs that adults couldn't do. In some cases, the businesses treated the children no better than slaves. They
kept them locked up and forced them to work long hours. In other cases, the businesses felt they were helping the
children out by feeding them and keeping them from starving.
Long Hours and Dangerous

Work The Industrial Revolution was a time of few government regulations on working conditions and hours. Children
often had to work under very dangerous conditions. They lost limbs or fingers working on high powered machinery
with little training. They worked in mines with bad ventilation and developed lung diseases. Sometimes they worked
around dangerous chemicals where they became sick from the fumes.

Did a lot of children work? Child labour was a common practice throughout much of the Industrial Revolution.
Estimates show that over 50% of the workers in some British factories in the early 1800s were under the age of 14.
In the United States, there were over 750,000 children under the age of 15 working in 1870.

Putting an End to Child Labour

In the United States, a real effort to regulate and put an end to child labour began in the early 1900s. Many
businesses were against it because they liked the cheap labour. Some families also needed the money their kids
brought home. However, eventually laws were passed. In 1938, the Fair labour Standards Act was passed that placed
some limitations on child labour, set a minimum wage, and put limits on how many hours an employee should work.

Interesting Facts about Child Labour during the Industrial Revolution

Children who worked often received little or no education.


Britain passed one of the first child labour laws in 1833. It made it illegal for children under the age of 9 to
work.
Sometimes children workers were orphans who had little choice but to work for food.
Children in the coal mines often worked from 4 am until 5 pm. Some child workers worked all day pulling
wagons of coal up small tunnels just a few feet tall.
Many young girls worked in match factories. The harsh chemicals would often cause them lose their teeth.

Breaker Boys, Matchgirls, and Newsies

During the Industrial Revolution it was common for children to work full time jobs. This was before there were laws
against child labour. Children often worked long hours each week for little pay. Some of these jobs were dangerous
causing children to be injured or even killed while working. Three typical jobs worked by children included breaking
coal, making matches, and selling newspapers. Children working these jobs earned the nicknames "breaker boys",
"matchgirls", and "newsies."

Breaker Boys

Breaker boys worked in the coal mines. Their main job was to separate chunks of coal by hand. As coal came down
the conveyor belt, they would break up the coal into uniform sized pieces and also separate out any impurities (like
rocks, clay, and soil). Most breaker boys were between the age of 8 and 12 years old. They would sit on wooden
seats separating coal with their bare hands for hours at a time. A typical work week for a breaker boy was 6 days a
week and 10 hours a day. Being a breaker boy was a tough and dangerous job. The sharp stones in the coal would
cut up their fingers. The buildings they worked in were filled with coal dust. Many of them developed asthma or lung
cancer. There were few safety measures and many breaker boys lost fingers or limbs that got caught in the conveyor
belts.

Matchgirls Matchgirls

Matchgirls worked in match factories. One of their jobs was to dip the tips of wooden matches into a chemical
called phosphorous. Most of the workers in match factories were women and many of them were young girls
between the age of 13 and 16. They became known by the nickname "matchgirls." Working in a match factory was
hard work and dangerous. Match dippers stood throughout much of a 12 hour workday and barely made enough
money to eat. They were sometimes beaten by their bosses and injured their fingers in the machinery. However, the
most dangerous part of being a match girl was the phosphorous chemicals. These chemicals made them sick and
caused many of the girls to lose their teeth.

Newsies

Newsies sold newspapers in the big cities. They were usually homeless orphan boys who had no other way to make
money. Newsies weren't hired employees. They ran their own business. Each morning they would get up and buy
newspapers. Then they would find a good corner with lots of traffic and sell the papers for a profit. Hopefully they
could sell all the papers. If they didn't, they might actually lose money. Newsies by Lewis Wickes Hine In 1899, some
of the newspapers in New York raised the prices that they charged the newsies for papers. The newsies banded
together and went on strike to fight the raise. They did all they could to prevent the sale of the newspapers.
Eventually, the two sides came to a compromise. The newspapers didn't lower the price of the papers, but they did
agree to buy back unsold papers from the newsies.

Interesting Facts about Breaker Boys, Matchgirls, and Newsies

Lewis Hine's famous photos of breaker boys at a Pennsylvania coal mine (see above) helped bring an end to
child labour.
In 1888, thousands of matchgirls went on strike in London to protest working conditions and low wages.
Kid Blink was one of the leaders of the newsie strike in 1899. He got the nickname "Kid Blink" because he
wore an eye patch over one eye.
Disney made a movie about the newsie strike in 1992 called Newsies. The Broadway musical version of
Newsies debuted in 2012

Women

The Industrial Revolution was a major turning point in history and changed the way of life for everyone. One major
change was a shift in the roles of women. For the first time, a large number of women began to work jobs outside of
the home. This newfound independence gave rise to other changes including the women's rights movement.

Lowell Mill Girls

One of the first factories in the United States to begin hiring women was the textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts.
By the 1840s, around seventy-five percent of the workforce at Lowell mills were women. These women became
known as "Mill Girls" or "Lowell Girls."

Getting Away from the Farm

Most of the "Mill Girls" were the daughters of farmers in the northeast. They took the opportunity to get away from
the farm and make some money of their own. Sometimes girls took the jobs to help out their family or to save
money for a future family. The women lived in large boarding houses with hundreds of other women. There were
lots of rules that the girls had to live by. They typically shared a room with several other women, had to attend
church on Sundays, and no men were allowed in the boarding houses.

Lower Wages and Poor Working Conditions

One reason that the factory owners liked to hire women was because they could pay them less. At the time, women
made around half of what men made for doing the same job. It may sound strange now, but back then people
thought that men should make more money because they provided for the family, while the money women made
was considered "extra" money. A Young Girl Working by Lewis Wickes Hine Working conditions in the factories were
not great. The women worked long hours from early morning to late at night. They often worked over 70 hours a
week. The factory rooms were crowed and very loud. Although the women did much of the work, the supervisors
were generally all men.
Civil War

The Civil War took place during the latter part of the Industrial Revolution. With so many men gone to war or killed
in battle, new jobs were opened up to women and even more women entered the work force.

Other Jobs

Besides working in textile factories, women began to work all sorts of jobs including jobs as teachers, office clerks,
nurses, and seamstresses.

Women's Rights Movement

As women began to work together in large groups, they gained a sense of community. They joined the labour
movement to improve working conditions and fought for the abolition of slavery. They also began to fight for
women's rights. Leaders such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed groups to push for women's
right to vote during the Industrial Revolution. It took a long time and a lot of work, but women finally gained the
right to vote when the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920.

Interesting Facts about Women during the Industrial Revolution

The Lowell women had their own monthly publication where they contributed articles, poems, and stories.
Dorothea Dix recruited thousands of women to become nurses during the Civil War.
The first women's rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848.
When the Lowell factory tried to raise the rent at the boarding houses in 1836, the Lowell women went on
strike. The factory eventually gave in and lowered the rent.
Typical wages in the mid-1800s for a woman working at a mill was between $3.00 and $3.50 a week.

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