Day 2
Why was Lowell a planned city?
Plan of Lowell showing the Merrimack Mills, 1827
One of the main goals of the Boston Associates in designing Lowell was to prevent the problems that the industrial revolution created in Great Britain from happening in their factories. The industrial revolution in Great Britain was characterized by widespread poverty among the working class. Where there was poverty, disease and death were sure to follow. Atrocious working conditions, unbelievably long work hours, poor diet, overcrowded slum housing and totally inadequate sanitary arrangements made poor health and early death inevitable facts of life for the lower classes. Another goal of the Boston Associates was to create an industrial environment that did not depend upon the use of child labor.
To prevent their industrialized city from suffering the fate of their British counterparts, the Boston Associates designed and created the Lowell System. This system is also referred to as the Waltham-Lowell System. Although a similar plan was first used at the Boston Associates Waltham mill, the plan was improved upon when designing the mills in Lowell.
To prevent their industrialized city from suffering the fate of their British counterparts, the Boston Associates designed and created the Lowell System. This system is also referred to as the Waltham-Lowell System. Although a similar plan was first used at the Boston Associates Waltham mill, the plan was improved upon when designing the mills in Lowell.
Activity 2
In this activity you are to click on the link and read the biography on Nathan Appleton. In this document is the basis for why he and the members of the Boston Associates wanted to create an almost utopian working environment in the city of Lowell. As you read this document, complete the work sheet questions that go along with the reading. There is a link for you to go to and print a copy. (Copies will also be available for you to use in class.)
| nathan_appleton.doc |
The Lowell System
Unlike the earlier mills of New England that were built in areas where small villages existed, such as the Waltham mill, Lowell was an exception. Lowell was the first planned industrial community of unprecedented size even before the piece of land was turned for the first mill. Lowell was in every sense a planned, industrial community.
The most famous aspect in the planning of Lowell was its social system. Francis Cabot Lowell, along with Appleton and Jackson, conceived of the plan to attract single, native women from the rural farms to work in the mills, housing them in strictly proper and carefully managed boardinghouses. This was a way of obtaining the necessary labor force to operate such a large-scale industrial establishment in a time of labor shortage. The Boston Associates pioneered the employment of women, from the age of 15-35 from New England farming families, as textile workers, in what became known as the Lowell system. Realizing that few men would leave their farms and families to work in the mills, the Boston Associates looked to single women to be their labor force.
The most famous aspect in the planning of Lowell was its social system. Francis Cabot Lowell, along with Appleton and Jackson, conceived of the plan to attract single, native women from the rural farms to work in the mills, housing them in strictly proper and carefully managed boardinghouses. This was a way of obtaining the necessary labor force to operate such a large-scale industrial establishment in a time of labor shortage. The Boston Associates pioneered the employment of women, from the age of 15-35 from New England farming families, as textile workers, in what became known as the Lowell system. Realizing that few men would leave their farms and families to work in the mills, the Boston Associates looked to single women to be their labor force.
Activity 3
As you watch the video, The Industrial Revolution - The Lowell Mills, complete the movie activity sheet. Copies of the movie activity sheet are also available in class.
| industrial_revolution_mill_girls_video_activity.doc |
