Industrialization and Social Change (1800s-1840s)

Many Irish immigrants came to the U.S. in the 1840s because:

• They were escaping the Irish Potato Famine

• They were seeking gold in California

• They wanted to join family members already in the U.S.

• They were fleeing from British rule

How did factory workers try to demand better pay and working conditions?

• By staging strikes and forming labor unions

• By accepting lower wages

• By working longer hours

• By avoiding any form of protest

Many women worked in textile mills in the 1830s because:

• Factory owners saw them as cheap labor

• Women were the only available workforce

• Textile mills were located near their homes

• They were paid higher wages than men

What was one demand made by women workers in the 1830s?

• Shorter workdays and better wages

• Longer work hours and lower wages

• No work on weekends

• Increased job security and benefits

What was the main goal of early trade unions?

• To help factory owners increase profits

• To improve working conditions for laborers

• To reduce the number of factories

• To increase competition among workers

How long was a typical workday for factory workers in the 1830s?

• 8-10 hours

• 10-12 hours

• 12-16 hours

• 16-18 hours

Why did many native-born Americans dislike Irish immigrants in the 1840s?

• They believed the Irish were taking jobs from American workers

• They thought the Irish were too wealthy

• They believed the Irish were not religious enough

• They felt the Irish were too educated

Child labor in early 19th-century factories was common because:

• Factory owners could pay them low wages

• Children were more productive than adults

• There were no laws against child labor

• Parents preferred to send their children to work

What was one way African Americans in the North responded to discrimination?

• They formed their own schools, churches, and organizations

• They moved to the South for better opportunities

• They accepted the discrimination without protest

• They sought help from the federal government

What was a major issue faced by factory workers in the early 1800s?

• Unsafe working conditions and long hours

• High wages and short shifts

• Abundant job opportunities and benefits

• Strict labor laws and regulations