Industrial Labor For Web

Industrial Labor1890-1910

Industrial Boom Industrial Boom After the Civil War, the following contributed

to an industrial boom in America: Availability of natural resources New inventions, and A receptive market

ImmigrationImmigration The massive growth in industrialization caused a labor

shortage

About 25 million people immigrated to the US between 1865 and 1910

Change in the origin of immigration 1870’s and 1880’s: Most immigrants came from the British Isles

and Northern Europe After 1890: Most immigrants came from Southern Europe 1849-1882: 300,000 Chinese Immigrants

Why Are the Immigrants Why Are the Immigrants Coming?Coming?

US was the land of undeniable economic opportunity

Push Factors: Rapid European population growth Religious and ethnic persecution

Many Jews were forced out of their countries

The Immigrants: Who Are The Immigrants: Who Are They? They?

Mostly rural: peasants or village craftsmen

Poor, but not the most impoverished

Young 67% were 30 years or younger 90% were 40 years or younger US got workers in their prime

Cultural IssuesCultural Issues

Ethnic Enclaves: immigrants tried to recreate life at home Little Italy, China Town, etc.

Assimilation pressures: Americanization Began immediately Pressures from schools, churches, employers Children were affected most through schools

Anti-Immigrant sentiments Immigration Protection League: wanted quotas American Protective Association: wanted to end immigration

entirely Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Congressional act that closed the

US to further Chinese immigration

Child LaborChild Labor Many children were drawn into the labor force

Factory wages were so low that children often had to work to help support their families

The number of children under the age of 15 who worked in industrial jobs for wages climbed from 1.5 million in 1890 to 2 million in 1910

Why Children???Why Children???

They worked in unskilled jobs for lower wages than adults

Their small hands made them more adept at handling small parts and tools

"There is work that profits children, and there is work that brings profit only to employers. The object of employing children is not to train them, but to get high profits from their work."

-- Lewis Hine, 1908

Images

Glass Blower and Mold Boy, Grafton, WVOctober 1908

Boy Running "Trip Rope" in a Mine, Welch, WVSeptember 1908

Children Working in a Bottle Factory, Indianapolis, INAugust 1908

Nine-Year Old Newsgirl, Hartford, CTMarch 6, 1909

The Noon Hour at an Indianapolis Cannery, Indianapolis INAugust 1908

Worker Picking Berries, Near Baltimore, MDJune 8, 1909

Workers Stringing Beans, Baltimore, MDJune 7, 1909

Young Boys Shucking Oysters, Apalachicola, FLJanuary 25, 1909

Basket Sellers, Cincinnati, OH

August 22, 1908