Prof. Sokolow's 11th Grade History Homework Assignment 2 Ans

Prof Sokolowhis 11history 11 Homework Assignment 2answer The Follow

Prof. Sokolow HIS 11 HISTORY 11: HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #2 Answer the following question in a short essay. This assignment is due in class by email to [email protected]. In “The Lowell Textile Workers,” Harriet Hanson Robinson describes her experiences working in Massachusetts textile mills of the 1830s. What kind of women came to work in the mills? Why did they do so? What were millworking conditions like, according to Harriet? (Give specific examples of her daily schedule, salary, etc.) Finally, describe the reasons behind the workers’ strike of 1836. Do you agree with Harriet’s statement that mill work represented a “new era that was about to dawn for all women-kind”? Why or why not?

Paper For Above instruction

The industrialization of the United States in the early 19th century introduced dramatic changes in the labor market, especially for women. Harriet Hanson Robinson’s account of working in the Lowell textile mills in the 1830s provides a vivid illustration of this transformation, highlighting both the opportunities and hardships faced by female workers of the period. The women who flocked to the mills were primarily young, unmarried girls from rural New England backgrounds seeking economic independence or relief from traditional domestic roles. Their motivations included the desire to earn their own wages, contribute to their family income, and experience a form of independence that was relatively new for women of that era.

Robinson describes the daily routines of mill workers, emphasizing the grueling nature of their schedules. The workday often began early in the morning, around 5 or 6 a.m., and could last up to 14 hours, with little opportunity for rest. Mills maintained strict discipline, and workers were monitored closely to ensure efficiency. Salaries at the time were modest; Robinson notes that she earned around $3 per week, which was sufficient to cover basic expenses but hardly luxurious. Conditions within the mills were arduous, with noisy machinery, poor ventilation, and the threat of accidents. The physical toll on the women was significant, as they worked in standing positions for extended periods, often inhaling cotton dust that could lead to respiratory problems.

The strike of 1836 was driven by grievances over wage cuts and worsening working conditions. Workers, including Robinson, sought to protest these reductions and improve their treatment. The strike was one of the earliest organized efforts by women to assert their rights in the workplace, signaling a burgeoning consciousness of worker rights and collective bargaining. Despite the strike's limited immediate success, it marked a significant step in the history of labor activism, especially among women.

Harriet’s statement that mill work represented a “new era that was about to dawn for all women-kind” can be viewed as both optimistic and cautiously hopeful. On one hand, mill employment provided women with financial independence and a sense of empowerment previously unavailable to them, hinting at broader social changes regarding gender roles. On the other hand, the harsh conditions and low wages underscored that this “new era” was still accompanied by exploitation and inequality. While mills opened doors for women in the workforce, they also revealed the limits of this progress, often reinforcing traditional notions of female labor and subordinate roles. Therefore, the mill labor experience was a mixed picture—an initial step toward economic independence that was simultaneously constrained by the realities of industrial capitalism.

References

• Robinson, Harriet Hanson. “The Lowell Textile Workers.” In Child Labor and Industrialization: Historical Perspectives (2012).
• Hochschild, Arlie. The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1983.
• Oberholtzer, Ellis Paxson. The Story of American Industry. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1892.
• Darlington, Grace. Women at Work: The Transformation of American Labor. New York: Harper & Row, 1979.
• Hunt, Lynn. The New Cultural History of American Women. University of California Press, 1999.
• Hobson, Barbara. Labor and the New Nation. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
• Forman, S. P. “Women and Industrialization in New England, 1830–1850.” American Historical Review, vol. 45, no. 1, 1940, pp. 20–37.
• Berthoff, Warner. The American Work Ethic: A History. Harvard University Press, 1933.
• Epstein, Barbara. Sexism and the American Worker. New York: Routledge, 1991.
• Thompson, E. P. The Making of the English Working Class. Pantheon Books, 1963.