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. Background Information

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 Why did American society accept the idea of kids working in the factories?

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 Rhode Island 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 Lowell System

Long work days 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) Problems of Factory Work

Increased competition for jobs kept driving down wages Poor working conditions both environmentally and health Why were trade unions formed?

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 Labor Reforms