turning out.
In 1834 and 1836, the mill owners reduced wages, increased the pace of work, and raised the rent for the boardinghouses. The young female workers went on strike (they called it “turning out” then) to protest the decrease in wages and increase in rent.
What was the Lowell mill strike?
In 1834, when their bosses decided to cut their wages, the mill girls had enough: They organized and fought back. The mill girls “turned out”—in other words, went on strike—to protest.
Why did the Lowell mill want girls to strike?
Over time, adult women would displace child labor, which an increasing number of factory owners, such as Lowell, were disinclined to hire. As the “factory system” matured, however, many women joined the broader American labor movement, to protest increasingly harsh working conditions.
What was the nickname given to Lowell workers?
mill girls
By 1840, the factories in Lowell employed at some estimates more than 8,000 textile workers, commonly known as mill girls or factory girls. These “operatives”—so-called because they operated the looms and other machinery—were primarily women and children from farming backgrounds.
Why were the mill workers striking?
In 1934, thousands of workers in Southern textile mills walked off the job seeking better pay and working conditions. The job actions they launched spread to New England and the Mid-Atlantic states and became one of the biggest industrial strikes in U. S. history.
When was the first Lowell mill strike?
One of the first strikes of cotton-factory operatives that ever took place in this country was that in Lowell, in October, 1836. When it was announced that the wages were to be cut down, great indignation was felt, and it was decided to strike, en masse.
What was the result of the Lowell strike?
Ultimately, the strikers did not get what they asked for in 1834 and either left Lowell or returned to work. The turn-out was rushed and not fully organized, brought on by the leader’s abrupt termination. Mill owners were also incredibly efficient in handling the strike.
What was the immediate cause of the Lowell strike of 1834?
Because of fierce competition for existing jobs, labor lost bargaining power.
What did mill 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.
What were the Lowell mills known for?
The Lowell mills were 19th-century textile mills that operated in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, which was named after Francis Cabot Lowell; he introduced a new manufacturing system called the “Lowell system”, also known as the “Waltham-Lowell system”.
What was it like to be a girl working at the Lowell mills in the 1830s?
In the mills, female workers faced long hours of toil and often grueling working conditions. Yet many female textile workers saved money and gained a measure of economic independence.
Why did the Lowell mills prefer to hire female workers?
Employing women in a factory was novel to the point of being revolutionary. The system of labor in the Lowell mills became widely admired because the young women were housed in an environment that was not only safe but reputed to be culturally advantageous.
Why is it called Bread and Roses strike?
Women didn’t shy away from the protests. They delivered fiery rally speeches and marched in picket lines and parades. The banners they carried demanding both living wages and dignity—“We want bread, and roses, too”—gave the work stoppage its name, the Bread and Roses Strike.
What was the biggest strike in history?
The 10 Biggest Strikes In U.S. History
- The Great Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902.
- The Steel Strike of 1919.
- The Railroad Shop Workers Strike of 1922.
- The Textile Workers Strike of 1934.
- United Mine Workers of America of 1946.
- The Steel Strike of 1959.
- The U.S. Postal Strike of 1970.
- UPS Workers Strike of 1997.
What was the first strike in American history?
Origins of The Labor Movement
The earliest recorded strike occurred in 1768 when New York journeymen tailors protested a wage reduction. The formation of the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers (shoemakers) in Philadelphia in 1794 marks the beginning of sustained trade union organization among American workers.
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).
What life was like for the Lowell Mill Girls?
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.
What was unique about the Lowell mills?
At Lowell’s mill raw cotton came in at one end and finished cloth left at the other.” What is this? This Lowell System was faster and more efficient and completely revolutionized the textile industry. It eventually became the model for other manufacturing industries in the country.