1. Mill Systems
Slater vs. Lowell

2. Samuel Slater
Explain how he brought the English textile design over to America.
Memorized it due to British law preventing the design from leaving
Where did he take his design and implement it?
New England, where manufacturing was more important

3. Slater System Also known as Rhode Island system
Problem with retaining jobs
Began hiring entire families in need of work
Low cost (children got paid significantly less)
More workers
Built housing for workers (attractive to urban travelers)
Company stores for workers
Cheaper for Slater, as he could invest more money into business
Over time, this system created whole functioning towns

4. Francis Cabot Lowell Lowell system
Mills powered by water – increased efficiency
Employed young, unmarried women
Created boardinghouses for them to live in
Paid $2-4 a week of which they paid $1.25 for board
Still more than other jobs available to them
Chance to work in city vs farm was very appealing
12-14 hour days and strict control
DAILY SCHEDULE
4:30AM – First bell
5:30AM – Second bell
6:30AM – Third Bell
12:00AM – lunch
12:35AM – lunch end
6:30PM – End work

5. Labor Reform Factory made vs. hand made
Causes stress for small businesses
Massive decrease in wages, but increased workforce
Fear of losing jobs and poor wages…
Skilled workers formed trade unions
“Groups that tried to improve pay and working conditions”
Many factories did not want to hire them, however…
Why not?

6. Labor Reform Strikes 1840s labor reform Lets do math…
Refusal to work until employers met their demands
Sometimes worked, most of the time it did not
1840s labor reform
Labor union leaders and President Martin van Buren formed 10-hour workweek for federal workers
Some states followed afterwards
Lets do math…