They organized the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association to press for reducing the workday to 10 hours. Women couldn’t vote in Massachusetts or anywhere else in the country, but that didn’t stop the mill girls.
Who were the Lowell mill girls and what did they do?
The Lowell mill girls were young female workers who came to work in textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, during the Industrial Revolution in the United States. The workers initially recruited by the corporations were daughters of New England farmers, typically between the ages of 15 and 35.
What was the result of the women’s strike at the Lowell textile mill?
It is hardly necessary to say that so far as results were concerned this strike did no good. The dissatisfaction of the operatives subsided, or burned itself out, and though the authorities did not accede to their demands, the majority returned to their work, and the corporation went on cutting down the wages.
What did the Lowell system do?
The Lowell System was a labor production model invented by Francis Cabot Lowell in Massachusetts in the 19th century. The system was designed so that every step of the manufacturing process was done under one roof and the work was performed by young adult women instead of children or young men.
What impact did the Lowell girls have on the development of a labor movement in the newly industrial Northeast?
What impact did the Lowell Girls have on the development of a labor movement in the newly industrial Northeast? They went on strike because of closely regulated living conditions. They encouraged a more productive work place.
How much were the Lowell Mill Girls paid?
High standards of behavior were expected. In exchange, work in the mills provided good wages–from $1.85 to $3.00 per week–the highest in the country for women (although men working in the same mills were generally paid at least two times the salaries of women).
Who founded the Lowell female labor Reform Association?
Sarah Bagley, a former mill girl and member of the LFLRA, is one notable figure that came out of the organization. Not only was she a prominent labor organizer and President of the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association beginning in 1844, but she also became one of the Voice of Industry’s radical editors and writers.
When was the Lowell System used?
During the early 1800s factories went up throughout New England, where rivers were used to power recently developed manufacturing machinery. One such factory was established between 1812 and 1814 in Waltham, Massachusetts.
What was life like for a Lowell girl?
Difficult Factory Conditions
These women worked in very sub-par conditions, upwards of 70 hours a week in grueling environments. The air was very hot in these rooms that were full of machines that generated heat, the air quality was poor, and the windows were often closed.
Why did mill owners hire female workers?
Lower Wages and Poor Working Conditions
One reason that the factory owners liked to hire women was because they could pay them less. At the time, women made around half of what men made for doing the same job.
Why were the Lowell mills important?
It introduced a new system of integrated manufacturing to the United States and established new patterns of employment and urban development that were soon replicated around New England and elsewhere.
Why was the Lowell System an economic success?
In 1814, the company opened a mill next to the Charles River in Waltham, Massachusetts. This is where Lowell developed and implemented a new approach to textile production. The power loom was a key aspect of industrializing textile production and therefore crucial to Lowell’s success.
What did Lowell girls do in their free time?
Free time could be taken up by numerous hobbies, such as writing letters to family and friends, going on walks, shopping, or pursuing creative projects. The girls would often go on outings as groups, especially to church on Sundays.