READING CHECK || "The Lowell Mill Girls"

The Industrial Revolution in the United States began with development in a single industry, textiles. A MAJORITY of these textile mills were located in WHICH REGION of the United States?

• New England
• Southeast
• Great Plains
• Southwest

By most historical estimates, in 1840 the mills in Lowell employed HOW MANY young women and girls in their factories?

• 1,500 young women and girls worked in the Lowell mills.
• 4,000 young women and girls worked in the Lowell mills.
• 6,000 young women and girls worked in the Lowell mills.
• 8,000 young women and girls worked in the Lowell mills.

From what background did most of the workers in the textile factories of Lowell, Massachusetts come from?

• Most of the workers were young women and girls from farming communities.
• Most of the workers were young men from farming communities.
• Most of the workers were young women and girls from poor, urban areas of the Northeast, such as Boston.
• Most of the workers were young women and girls who had recently immigrated to the United States from places such as Ireland and Germany.

Who was thought to be the AUTHOR of the journal titled "A Factory Girl"?

• Francis Cabot Lowell
• Orestes Brownson
• Harriet Jane Farley
• Samuel Slater

How long was the average working life of the girls in Lowell according to Orestes Brownson?

• 1 year
• About 3 years
• Just over 5 years
• Most worked for 15+ years

Why were women attracted to factory work? How do you know?

• Working at the mills was the way of the future. "The Lowell mills were the first hint of the industrial revolution to come in the United States."
• Working at the mills provided women a sense of freedom. "They were able to earn their own money and had broader educational opportunities."
• Women wanted to work hard and show that they were equal to men. "We get our wages after hard work, restraint, discomfort & prejudice."
• Women did not want to work at other jobs because they were dull. "There are more factory jobs than domestic, seamstress and school-teacher jobs."

TRUE? or FALSE? || "According to 'A Factory Girl', the textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts were some of the most well-paid female jobs at the time."

• TRUE
• FALSE

Read the section "A Factory Girl, Lowell Offering, December 1840." Which SENTENCE from the section BEST supports the idea that steady work was difficult for women to find?

• It has been said that for women to put themselves under the influence and restraints of corporations, is contrary to their nature.
• It is because our work is so difficult that the wages of factory girls are higher than those of females engaged in most other occupations.
• These wages have drawn many worthy, virtuous, intelligent and well-educated girls to Lowell and other factories.
• However, factory labor is more available than work for many domestics, seamstresses and school-teachers.

What is Orestes Brownson's MAIN opinion about women working in the mills?

• Most women who work in the mills seem happy & healthy.
• Women who work in the mills are worthy and virtuous.
• Most women work in the mills only for about three years.
• Working in the mills ruins women's reputations and health.

The CENTRAL IDEA of this article is developed by:

• providing two contrasting views about the value of factory work for women.
• using evidence to suggest that factory work was a well-paid profession.
• highlighting two individuals' contrasting experiences working in a factory.
• describing the harmful way that factory work affected many women's lives.