Vocab
Mill
a building equipped with machines; a factory
Were the Lowell Mill girls fed well? Explain.
Yes, they were. The women were given three meals a day and ate food such as cod, soup, biscuits, pie, and hot coffee.
How did the girls have to wear their hair? Explain your answer.
The girls had to wear their hair tied up so that it didn't get caught in the machinery.
What does "turn out" mean?
To go on strike
Why did people leave their homes to work at the mills?
They left their homes because the factories offered better wages and living conditions than they would have had at their farms. They also left their homes for independence. This was the first time many of them got to be on their own, so being able to make money and send it home to their families was important.
Strike
When employees stop working until their demands are met by employers
How many people slept per bed at the Lowell boarding houses?
2-3.
How much money did Mill girls make a week?
$3 - $4.
What were the consequences of speaking out against poor working conditions?
TRUE OR FALSE: Mill girls were required to attend church on Sundays as a condition of their employment.
TRUE
Profit
The amount of money a business makes
What did the typical Sunday of a Lowell Mill worker look like?
They went to church, socialized, and watched plays, lectures, and concerts. They couldn't drink!!!
What did the Lowell Mills produce?
Textiles (cloth)
Why do you think it was hard for women to have their voices heard when protesting and going to legislation?
Women did not have rights back then and they were seen as inferior to men. Note that *WHITE* women did did not receive voting rights until 1920.
Why were factory jobs open to women?
As mills grew, mill owners realized that they did not have enough male workers to run the machines. They opened up the work to women who could be enticed by the benefits of leaving home for work.
Textiles
Cloth items
Where did the mill workers eat and sleep?
Boarding houses
How many hours a day did the girls work?
12-13 (and sometimes more!)
What did some mill workers do to protest the poor working conditions?
They wrote out their grievances and threatened to strike. Many did go on strike when their employers didn't make changes.
TODAY, how do we know what the Mill girls experienced?
We have primary sources which include photographs, memoirs, letters, newspapers, work schedules, and more.
Trade Union
A group of workers with goals to improve pay & working conditions
Why were the mill girls required to follow such strict rules?
There were rules to maintain their reputations. Because it was not common for women to work outside of the home, it was important that they were still seen as virtuous and reputable women.
Describe the working conditions during a shift in the Mill.
It was very loud and the machines were dangerous. The air was filled with dust, making it very hard to breathe. The factories were incredibly hot (due in part to the machines generating heat). Also, it was so crowded, making it so that there was very little room to move.
What did workers do to improve their working conditions? Give me as much information as you can.
They formed labor unions, went on strike, and wrote letters to their senators and mill managers. They fought for working rights to improve their lives in the factories.
What was the name of the union started by Sarah Bagley?
The Lowell Female Labor Reform Association