Chapter 14 Section 3 Industrialization and Workers Industrialization

Chapter 14 Section 3: Industrialization and Workers

Industrialization • Growth of industry

Growing American Force • Around 14 million people immigrated to U. S. between 1860 & 1900 • Population shift: 8 to 9 million Americans moved to cities from farms – Fled poor economic conditions on farms & lured by fast pace city life • Few African Americans migrated b/c jobs were closed to them in cities

Why entire Families worked • Wages were low & no one person could earn enough $ to provide for household • Girls left school at 12 or 13 to work so brothers could stay in school • Moms worked in factories if they could not make $ at home • If adults were sick/died or could not keep a job

Factory work in the 1800 s • Worked 12 hour days 6 days a week • Paid by piecework: workers paid not by the hour but by what they produce • Division of Labor: Factory workers performed one small task over and over; rarely saw finished product – Referred by factory owners as “hands” or “operatives” = interchangable

Factory work in the 1800 s cont. • Work conditions – Strict discipline: fired for being late or refusing to do task – Boring jobs: repeating tasks over and over – Noise deafening: no ear protection around loud machines – Ventilation poor • Effect: – Fatigue, faulty equipment, careless result in fires & accidents

What does the painting suggest about the conditions faced by workers?

Roles of Women in the work force • Employers excluded women from most skilled & highest paying jobs = worked simple machines • No chance to advance in factory work = performed only 1 part of sewing of a garment or item

Roles of children in work force • Made up 5% of industrial labor force • Children working meant difference between going hungry or having food on table • Dangerous work was unhealthy & stunted both body & mind