Francis Cabot Lowell and The New England Textile

Francis Cabot Lowell and The New England Textile Industry Despite the hard work and low pay, however, many young women sought jobs in the mills. Why?

Background – Lowell Mills England tried to protect its textile industry Unsuccessful Samuel Slater – Memorized plans Francis Cabot Lowell– Smuggles sketches Founded textile factory in Waltham

Background – Lowell Mills Con’t New England industry gets boost Embargo Act of 1807 After War of 1812 British Cloth was cheaper Lowell was able to compete and make a profit

Background – Lowell Mills Con’t Mills employed young women Scant opportunities to make money 1840 s immigrant would work for less

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ENTREPRENEUR Identifies an opportunity Willing to risk financial loss in hope of making a profit Secures financial capital Brings together productive resources to produce a good or service

Activity 12. 1 Annotate the passage - FRANCIS CABOT LOWELL AND THE NEW ENGLAND TEXTILE INDUSTRY After annotation, in your group answer the discussion questions

HOW DID LOWELL EPITOMIZE ENTREPRENEURIAL CHARACTERISTICS? Identifies an opportunity Willing to risk financial loss in hope of making a profit Secures financial capital Brings together productive resources to produce a good or service

Lowell Factory Girls Video

Activity 12. 2 Annotate the two passages and respond to the discussion question

Class Discussion Questions What are some incentives that apparently influenced the mill girls? Why was it beneficial for Francis Cabot Lowell, and other mill owners, to hire women rather than men to work in the mills? Why the mill owners were able to pay higher wages to workers than the young women could have earned by making cloth at home? Why did immigrants replace the mill girls?

Wrap Up What is an incentive? What was the incentive that motivated Francis Cabot Lowell? Who benefited? What incentive motivated Southern planters to grow cotton and send it to textile factories of the North? What were the incentives of the immigrants who came to America and replaced the mill girls? What incentive did mill owners have to hire the immigrants? Who won and who lost when the immigrants replaced the mill girls?

Short Answer A, B, and C A. Briefly describe how Francis Cabot Lowell illustrates the attributes of and entrepreneur B. Briefly explain the costs to a young woman working in a Lowell textile mill C. Briefly explain the benefit to a young woman working in a Lowell textile mill