The early 1800's

A detailed Summary of The early 1800's

By the early 1800's, the dawn of a new era had begun. Family and home life was changing as well as the communities around them. There was a fast growing need to produce products like clothing, quickly and efficiently. This new era brought about the mechanical industry that created factories, which could meet this need. But who would work in these factories if the men were moving west? By the 1840's the necessity to find workers for these factories had produced major social changes-changes which carry on until today.

Before this time, most all clothing was spun and woven in the home by women. But by the 1840's, most was produced in factories set up in what were referred to as mill towns. Lowell Massachusetts was one such town. This change created a whole new idea of what women's duties were, domestic or money earning laborers? Women had previously only been seen as domestic and having one goal, that of being a housewife. Their move into town to provide a workforce for the clothing factories sparked controversy in many eyes. Some people branded them "mill girls" who were doomed and unmarriable. Others thought of them as adventurers, with the fancy of bringing new fashions, books and ideas home with them. But the stat

In the factories, women were looked down upon--seen only as people who flowed in to the factory day in and day out earning their keep, spinning and weaving for the rest of their lives. They were not worthy of earning an education, and were considered socially and intellectually inept. As time went by, the bigotry began to wear away. The factories flourished with women who had wisdom and potential. One man who visited one of the mills was noted to have bowed to all the women in the mill, This sign of respect was usually reserved for ladies whom society regarded as upper class. As time wore on, "mill girls" were eventually heeded as ladies, women worth of respect.

. Miss Sarah G. Bagley submitted the first petition to the Lowell Corporation that was signed by Mr. John Quincey Adams Thayer, and eight hundred and fifty others. This petition called for improvements in the overall working conditions within the factories. These demands for better conditions lit a spark that was the beginning of what is a modern day OSHA, a systematic law for all employers and employees. The corporation acknowledged that their demands were reasonable and considerable, but believed they were not the source for solving the problems the mill workers faced. They felt that the workers in a capitalistic system had their own bargaining power and were equal to management. As a result, the Massachusetts

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lowell Massachusetts, Massachusetts Legislature, , Adams Thayer, Eliza Hemmingway, Sarah Bagley, Lowell Corporation, mill girls, mill workers, women lived, conditions factories,

Approximate Word count = 936
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History