The American Industrial Revolution

by Mr. Becker11/26/09

Where Did It All Start? The Industrial Revolution actually did

not start in America. It began in Great Britain. It started in the textile industry 1st machine is the “Spinning Jenny” to

create thread.

Some Important people of the Industrial Revolution.

Samuel Slater – He brought the Industrial Revolution to America. He stole the plans from a British factory and set up the 1st mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Francis Cabot Lowell – He created a new style of textile factory by combining all the parts to textile making into 1 building.

Eli Whitney – He was 1 one the best inventors of his time. His 1st invention was to create Interchangeable Parts.

Sarah Bagley – She founded the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association. This was a Labor Union to fight for better working conditions in factories.

Robert Fulton – He created the 1st successful steamboat in America.

Labor Unions – What is the Point?

Average workday was 12-14 hours.

Women were paid $2-$4 per week, Kids paid even less.

Children as young as 8-9 worked in mines and mills.

No safety equipment and no Health standards in the early factories.

Trade (Labor) Unions fought to get better conditions for workers.

They fought for the 10-hour workday.

Safer conditions and better pay.

They used Petitions or Strikes to improve conditions.

Lowell Female Labor Reform Association – one of the 1st Trade Unions.

Before After

Child Labor Laws

Kids as young as 8-9 years old were working in Factories 12-14 hours a day.

(Scenes below were cruel but common.)

-It wasn’t until the Great Depression in the 1930’s that they started to make laws putting an age limit on workers. (When men would take any job for any wage.)-Today you must be at least 16 to get a job.

Good Things About the Industrial Revolution.

Working on a farm kids would earn no money, so factories gave them the opportunity to make $$$$.

Also, working in factories allows kids to meet new and interesting people.

And in some early factories, girls were encouraged to take classes and form women’s clubs.

Both of which would not happen if they stayed on the farm.

Factories gave women a chance to become more independent.

Negative effects of the Industrial Revolution.

Put your own words to the pictures

How Was Society Changed?

Society was changed in 3 basic ways: 1 - People started to work away from homes.

They worked in Factories and Mills.

2 – The Skill Level of workers declined. Jobs were made easy enough that a child could work. You only did 1 part of creating the product.

3 – New Technology was created to make jobs faster and produce more.

New machines did the job faster. Mass Production of products.

Bibliography

-Salvucci, Linda, and  Sterling Stuckey.  Call to Freedom.            New York:  Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003 .

-Bellis,  Mary.  About, Inc:Inventors . 18/1/07. < http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blspinningjenny.htm >.