Industry Changes Work Production moved from to and artisans 

Farm to Factory Lowell workforce  almost entirely unmarried farm girls 90% of workers in 1828 80% under age 30 1834 first strike at Lowell 15% pay cut Spindles and looms had been tripled, but workers only increased 50% Workers returned, leaders fired 1836 second strike at Lowell Boarding rates increased = 12.5% pay cut Twice as many women went on strike Company fired leaders Most workers then returned to jobs

Workers Seek Better Conditions 1830s and 1840s 1-2% of workers were unionized Dozens of strikes Usually for higher wages/shorter workdays Workers usually lost Strikebreakers hired Usually immigrants who had fled even greater poverty

Immigration 1830-1860 dramatic increase in immigration Largest groups were  Midwest  eastern cities Faced discrimination