Life in the North [Pre-Civil War]
Working in the Factories Factories of the 1850s were larger with steam-powered machines Entire families worked in factories from 4 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 2 breaks a day: Breakfast & Lunch The factory whistle controlled their lives
Steam Powered Machinery
Hazards in Factories Few windows / No heating or air conditioning No safety devices on machines / Injuries were common Injured workers were fired
Hazards in Factories
Workers Join Together Poor working conditions & low wages lead workers to join together Artisans organize first into trade unions. Unions want shorter workweek, better pay, and better conditions in factories
TRADE UNIONS
Workers Join Together Workers strike to gain their demands Artisans gain the right to strike and better pay Unskilled workers were unable to bargain because they were easy to replace
Strike!!!
Women Workers Women in textile mills start to organize Paid lower wages then men / people believe women should stay home Lowell factory workers strike and ask for a 10-hour work day
Women Workers
Millions of New Americans 1840s and 1850s: 4 million immigrants come to America Millions of Irish immigrate due to potato famine Irish settle in poor neighborhoods of the cities
Potato Famine in Ireland
Millions of New Americans Germans immigrate due to Revolutions in Germany Immigrants provide the labor needed in Northern factories
Millions of New Americans
Some “native” born Americans want to pass laws to limit immigration Nativism Some “native” born Americans want to pass laws to limit immigration They said that immigrants stole jobs & blame them for crime
Look at this POLITICAL CARTOON. What is its message? Nativism Look at this POLITICAL CARTOON. What is its message?
Immigrants faced discrimination because many of them were Catholic Nativism Immigrants faced discrimination because many of them were Catholic Nativists form the Know-Nothing Political Party
Nativism
African-Americans in the North 1000s of freed slaves lived in the North African-Americans faced discrimination in voting, housing, education, & jobs
African-Americans in the North
African-Americans in the North Many African-Americans had successful businesses and some became lawyers and newspaper editors John Russworm, editor of the 1st African American newspaper