1. From the colonies to now

2.  Most people made everything they needed with their hands.  They bought only a few things from stores. The rest of it they made or grew.

3.  They had to work hard all day long and were really tired, but they could keep their own profits (money and things made) and didn’t have to depend on getting things from somewhere else.  Some people worked on farms.  Others had trades like making shoes, or being a blacksmith.

4.  In the 1800’s, a lot of factories were opened.  In factories more things could be made and things could be made faster because people worked together and used machines.

5.  Children worked in factories and coal mines.  Some children started working when they were 5 or 6 years old.

6.  Some people worked in factories because the machines made it easier to do the job.  Some things still had to be made by hand.  Sometimes whole families worked.

7.  Now many things are made by factories.  Some factories have people working to help make things.  Others have machines that make everything and people just make sure the machines are working.