1. Life in the North
[Pre-Civil War]

2. 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

3. Steam Powered Machinery

4. Hazards in Factories
Few windows / No heating or air conditioning
No safety devices on machines / Injuries were common
Injured workers were fired

5. Hazards in Factories

6. 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

7. TRADE UNIONS

8. 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

9. Strike!!!

10. 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

11. Women Workers

12. 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

13. Potato Famine in Ireland

14. Millions of New Americans
Germans immigrate due to Revolutions in Germany
Immigrants provide the labor needed in Northern factories

15. Millions of New Americans

16. 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

17. Look at this POLITICAL CARTOON. What is its message?
Nativism
Look at this POLITICAL CARTOON. What is its message?

18. 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

19. Nativism

20. African-Americans in the North
1000s of freed slaves lived in the North
African-Americans faced discrimination in voting, housing, education, & jobs

21. African-Americans in the North

22. 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