The life of slaves and factory workers in 19th century

History 17

22 July 2018

Research Paper

One of the interesting things that interested me in this class was how slave and factory workers were treated. It was very interesting on how they worked and how they were treated. There was times were one group was treated equally but the other one wasn’t. I believe both slave and factory workers should be treated equally because they both suffered.

Samuel Slater was known as the “ Father of the Factory System” he made a machine called the cotton gin he had no clue what he created it wouldn’t be a place for make but also a place to work. During the 1800’s when slavery was increasing southerners justified their actions by declaring that factory workers of the North had terrible lives than slaves in the south. Northerners would dismiss the thought of it but it was true. Northerners felt like that because of the way slaves were treated. What they did not understand was factory workers had long times of not seeing friends and families. They were exhausted people they would work horrifying hours and work with in unsafe places.

In the textbook in a letter from a women worker in the lowell mills wrote to a friend stating “ You wish to know minutely of our hours of labor. We go in [to the mill] at five o’clock; at seven we come out to breakfast; at half-past seven we return to our work, and stay until half- past twelve. At one, or quarter-past one four months in the year, we return to our work, and stay until seven at night. Then the evening is all our own, which is more than some laboring girls can say, who think nothing is more tedious than a factory life (The Brief American Pageant).” As you can see this work is tough as a women worker.

Northern Factory workers had no extra time to spend time with family or friends. On the other hand the slaves got to be with their friends and family everyday. While slaves were enjoying spending time with family and friends the factory workers had few time with family and friends with was unfair. Since the factory workers were really tired if by chance they had a time away from the factory they would sleep. The boss off the factory can take blame of that to invest energy with family and friends but at the same time they were required to rest to habve the alertness required for the next day.

The South slaves were viewed as significant property. The owner needed to pay a cost for the slave they didn’t want them to get ill or injured. It is a result of this that slaves regularly just worked amid the day hours and rested during the evening. On the other hand owners didn’t care if factory workers were ill or injured. They were forced to work for long hours at times they would only catch a few hours of sleep.

At the same time both groups were mistreated unfairly. Factory workers and slaves were treated very poorly. Food wasn’t the best many were to work in disgusting places. Slaves didn’t have the right to vote even after they were given the right to vote they still didn’t really have the right to vote. Factory workers were limited by not being able to form labor unions. There was many young slaves hat included children they were to put to work. Many factory workers started working at young ages as well they were treated very badly adults weren’t treated as bad. Factory work was very dangerous death and injuries were common. Factory workers would work long hours and got payed minimum wage. They would have to ask their boss if they needed anything.

Something that can be compared between the slave and factory workers were that they both work in different conditions both did suffer. Factory workers and slaves were treated very poorly. Food wasn’t the best many were to work in disgusting places. Slaves didn’t have the right to vote even after they were given the right to vote they still didn’t really have the right to vote. Factory workers were limited by not being able to form labor unions. There was many young slaves hat included children they were to put to work. Many factory workers started working at young ages as well they were treated very badly adults weren’t treated as bad. Slave conditions were horrible they were the poorest of society, they were abused by owners and also they were denied to earn money. Many factory workers were getting paid but slaves weren’t they weren’t even feed a meal.

There was many underage children who worked very young. They were under the age of 10 many got whipped inside rooms factories provided. Slave conditions were different than factory workers south slaves worked outside in the cotton fields. Slaves that work in the fields worked from sunrise to sunset every year they would get new clothes they were given punishment is they broke any rules. By the time children were 8 slave children had to work on plantation. During the harvest season they would work a lot. The treatment of kids in production lines was regularly barbarous and irregular, and the youngsters’ wellbeing was for the most part dismissed.

The most youthful youngsters, who were not mature enough to work the machines, were normally sent to be collaborators to material laborers. The general population who the kids served would beat them, verbally mishandle them, and take no thought for their wellbeing. Sometimes young men got dragged from their bed and got sent to the factories. Children had to work long hours yet additionally, they were in terrible conditions. Numerous mischances happened harming or murdering youngsters at work. Not until the point that the Factory Act of 1833 did things move forward. Youngsters were paid just a small amount of what a grown-up would get, and now and then factory workers would escape without paying them.

Overall I think every boss should’ve been equal worker. I don’t think It was necessary to do all these acts on workers. Everyone should be payed equal and also I don’t think children at young ages should be working. Lastly I still believe very group should’ve been treated equally because they went through a lot.