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Factory Systems during the Industrial Revolution. Background Information. Most of the population of the United States lived and worked on a farm Many saw a chance to work in a mill as an opportunity to do something new and a good way to earn money
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Background Information • Most of the population of the United States lived and worked on a farm • Many saw a chance to work in a mill as an opportunity to do something new and a good way to earn money • Little skill was needed to work in a mill because you could be easily trained to complete your assigned task.
Why did American society accept the idea of kids working in the factories? • Kids had always worked on the family farm growing up or been apprenticed to a trade • There was a belief that kids needed to be busy to stay out of trouble • There was no mandatory education and some families needed the extra income
Rhode Island System • Established by Samuel Slater • Divide the factory work into multiple, simple tasks that could easily be taught • Hire families to complete all parts of the factories work • Provide housing and a general store for families • Pay workers with credit at the general store and reinvest savings to build business
Lowell System • Created by Francis Cabot Lowell • Water powered textile mill • Single loom that could both spin the thread and weave the cloth • Hire single young women to work at the mill • Provide supervised housing and board for workers • Encourage education and special interests among workers
Problems of Factory Work • Long work days 12-16 hours • Controlled and ridged routine with a bell system • Little to no breaks • People needed to keep up with the increasing production of the machines • Health problems due to the unclean working environment (dust, dirt, danger of machines)
Why were trade unions formed? • Increased competition for jobs kept driving down wages • Poor working conditions both environmentally and health
Labor Reforms • Shorten the work day • Federal government passed regulation for a 10 hour day for its employees and they wanted it extended to everyone • Child labor conditions • Children were paid less so they were given the worst work for the longest duration. • Mandate education • Limit work day • Access to increased breaks • Age restrictions • Safety precautions