Industrialization In America

With the industrialization in America came an increasing demand for labor. At that time, a large majority of Americans still lived on the farms. Those that did live in urban area were those of skilled labor such as independent craftsmen and small businessmen. The challenge faced by factory owners was recruitment. One popular form, specifically utilized by textile mills, was enlisting young women in their late teens or early twenties. This became known as the Lowell or Waltham System. Although the conditions for women workers in Europe were horrifyingly bad, in America the emerging female workforce was treated much different (American History, p277)
Overall female workers were well treated. Since most of New England considered employing
In particular, what roles did women (black and white, slave and free) play in each social system?

Life in America began on the farm. All family members contributed and were essentially sources of income. Industrialization throughout the country, not only changed the economy but also the family dynamic, specifically women. Their roles would begin to change not only in the northern regions but also the south. For the northern industrial regions, the growing urban regions caused the family dynamic to change. Land was no longer a primary concern but instead jobs themselves. Offspring were much more likely to leave the family in search of employment. A divide also emerged between the workplace and the home. Income earners traveled to work which left domestic duties in the home environment. This led to a sharp distinction between male and female roles. Unlike the rural households where all family members produced, women became responsible for certain “domestic virtues”. Their roles as mothers, wives, and consumers were all enhanced. (American History,
Slaves were generally only provided the necessities by their masters to live and work. They were fed a crude diet, clothed with the cheapest cloth, and housed in basic cabins. Slave families were often divided which left the women as head of the household. These women also acted as a primary provider of medical care. (American History, 309)
White women in the south also shared some of the same responsibilities as their counterparts in the north. Their roles as mothers and wives were also enhanced. There were also distinct differences. The whites males emphasis on “honor” meant that they were even more dominant and women were more subordinate. Southern women had less access to education leaving over twenty five percent illiterate. They also had a higher birth rate coupled with a higher infant mortality rate. (American History, p304)
America continued to develop and change through the industrial era. It was steadily transforming from what was a mostly rural country. More importantly, the society and its interworking were changing along with