The Factory System The conditions of factory workers and the fight for a better life.

The Factory System In the 19th century factories were made to produce more goods efficiently Cloth, once made by hand, was now made in a textile factory

Factory Workers Men, women and children came to work in the factories Many came from the farms to get better jobs in the cities

Labor Conditions People usually worked six days a week, for ten to fourteen hours a day Many jobs were unsafe Children often worked, too

Labor Unrest Workers organized strikes against poor working conditions and low pay. A strike is when workers leave their jobs as a protest. In some cases workers formed unions, an organization of workers, to improve their pay and working conditions

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire In 1911 a fire broke out in Triangle Shirtwaist Factory 146 people died in the in the blaze The factory doors were locked to prevent employees from leaving and theft

Knights of Labor The Knights of Labor formed after the Civil War The union organized both skilled and unskilled workers They fought for an 8 hour day and equal wages for women and an end to child labor

American Federation of Labor The AF of L was a craft union that organized skilled workers They worked to improve wages and working conditions through bargaining with employers. Their leader was Samuel Gompers

Women Workers Women workers formed a union for garment workers In 1912 immigrant women went on strike to protest low wages. In Lawrence Mass. The strike lasted two months, and the strikers won a pay raise and their other demands.

Labor Laws After worker protests the government established labor laws including: 8 hour day Limited child labor Improved safety Allowed workers to organize unions