Monday, February 3, 2014

Were workers in the factories happy?

Instructions: Below are three readings about factory workers in the 1840s. Write a paragraph response that answers this question: "What were some of the grievances of  factory workers in the 1840s? Be sure to give specific examples to support your thesis."


Reading 1:
The operatives work thirteen hours a day in the summer time, and from daylight to dark in the winter. At half past four in the morning the factory bell rings, and at five the girls must be in the mills....So fatigued...are numbers of girls that they go to bed soon after their evening meal, and endeavor by a comparatively long sleep to resuscitate their weakened frames for the toil of the coming day.
The Harbinger, 1846
Reading 2:
We...agree to work for such wages per week, and prices by the job, as the Company may see fit to pay....We also agree not to be engaged in any [actions], whereby the work may be impeded, or the company's interest in any work injured....
             Work contract, Cocheco Manufacturing Company, Dover, New Hampshire

Reading 3:
Just as there is sun at noonday, [the owners], under its present hostile and unnatural state, is fast reducing [the workers] to utter dependence and slavish beggary....This talk about the continued prosperity, happy condition, and future independence of the producing class of this country...is all fiction, moonshine.
                 Voice of Industry, 1845

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alan M. p.3

The workers had many complaints of working in the factory. on example of these complaints is in reading 1 "The operatives had to work for 13 hours a day." That supporting detail shows that all the workers were tired. Another supporting detail of the workers complaining is in reading 2. "we... agree to work for such wages per week, and prices by the job." That supporting detail shows that all them workers had to agree with everything although they didn't like it they had to do it. Therefore these are all the complaints of the workers that work in the factory.

Anonymous said...

Christopher carpio
Jesse tututi per 3 2/6/14

All the workers are complaining that they don't get paid enough, they work long hours ,and are being treated like slaves. all the worker in (reading 1) suffer from fatigue because they work long hours. In (reading 2) workers did not get paid enough but agreed to not do anything that interferes with their work. In (reading 3) company is lying about how the workers are being treated like slaves.

Anonymous said...

period3 Bryan a For the first complain the workers are angry because they wake up early.And that they work 13 hours a day.For the second complain they hate how much they get payed so they agreed not to do anything until they get payed good money.And for the last complain the workers complain that the owners make them work to much.

Anonymous said...

per 3 David R

The workers in a factory are having complains about how they are not being treated fairly. Here are some of the complains of the workers in the factory.The workers are tired of working hard everyday for thirteen hours and a day and getting little sleep. Second the men are complaining that they don't get their paychecks that the the company promised them. Third the owners are treating the workers like slaves ant the workers are saying that the prosperity, happy condition, and the future independence are a lie to the workers.

Anonymous said...

P.3
Alyssa B.
In the 1840s, when the Industrial Revolution began there was some workers who complained about the factory they worked in. One of the complaints was that some workers were given to many hours, which was about thirteen hours everyday. The workers began to feel so weakened and fatigued. Another complain the workers had, was that the company did not pay them enough for what they worked. But they decided to not go on strike and do nothing about it because if they did they would not get paid at all. Finally, they complained about getting treated unfairly, and where victims of slavery and aside from that the company pretended that everything was okay and it wasn't. They did that in order to keep they're image clean.

Anonymous said...

The workers complained about working to much hours. The quote also means like they dont get to sleep that much. The company decides to pay whatever they want. Actions where by the work may be impleaded, they promised not to go on strike. The workers complained about the companies treating them unfairly and pretended everything is okay, but in reality they are treated like slaves.

Anonymous said...

p2. Ariana T.
The workers complained about working to much hours.The qoute also means they don't get to sleep that much.The company decides to pay whatever they want.Actions where by,the work mabey impleaded,they promised to not go on strike.The workers complained about the companies treated them , the women, unfairly. They pretended everything was okay. But in reality they were being treated like a slave.

Anonymous said...

Per. 3, Gissel G.
One of the complaints were that the women were working to much. They wanted to work less and have a longer break. One of the other ones were the workers wanted to be payed the amount of how many hours they worked. In the same complaint that was sent to the company was that the company will pay for any injurys that are caused inside the factory. The last one was the workers weren't treated fairly. They wanted a little freedom.

Anonymous said...

P3 Jorge M

There were many different complaints that the workers had in the Industrial Revolution in the 1840's. One of the complaints was that the workers were always tired, they would work for thirteen hours and go home and start sleeping. " at five the girls must be in the mills... so fatigued... are numbers of girls that they go to bed soon after their evening meal" Another complaint was that they hated the amount of money they got per job/week, but the also agreed to not do anything about it. "We...agree to work for such wages per week, and prices by the job,as the company may see fit to pay. The last complaint was the fact that working the factory was boring, an unhappy place, a place where the only way to make money is to work hard for not alot of pay. "Just as there is sun at noonday, the owners, under the present hostile and unnatural state, is fast reducing the workers to utter dependence and slavish beggary..."

Anonymous said...

P.5 Ruben.S

The first complaints that a factory worker reported was to reduce work hours because they worked 13 hours a day they asked the owners if they could reduce to 8 hours.Another complaint a worker reported was more pay if they were going to continue working at regular hours if fatigue would set in.Last complaint was more sleep so workers wouldn't fall asleep and be hurt on the job.

Anonymous said...

P5.Yaslyn L.
One of the most complaints were that they had to work for thirteen hours a day. A regular job is eight hours so they thought they worked more than a regular day so they worked five hours extra. Also, because the workers power,only had to strike.Another reason is that the workers are getting mad because the boss is telling them a lot of lies.

Anonymous said...

What were some of the complains that factory workers had at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 1840's,the complains were that they couldn't do a lot. They work almost all day morning to night. The people who works the machines work for 13 hours, a day. And they don't get a lot of sleep. We agreed to work as long as the company says to. That will make the components set more money.

Anonymous said...

p.5 Carlos Gallegos

Some complaints that workers had was working for a long time."The operatives work thirteen hours a day."People also had to work early."At five girls needed to be in the mills ."The people didn't get enough sleep.Workers in the factory had to agree on their wages and couldn't say anything about it ."We...agree to work for such wages per week,and prices by the job,as the company may see fit to pay."The company is making the workers work as their slaves and beg for them."To the utter dependence and slavish beggary."

Anonymous said...

P5 Samuel R
Worker were mad about working to long in the summer time ,but at the some time the boss has a point because in the winter their is no light so less time to work.The workers are getting paid certain amounts and they can't go on strike because of their low wages.The workers were treated like slaves and the boss was talking about it is going to be better,but its not.

Anonymous said...

Jasmine G
Period.5

Some of the complaints that the workers had were that some of the people got fevers and some got asthma.The cause for getting asthma is breathing all those cloth fibers and fever were caused by the smell of cloth.Another danger was to hit your hand of damage you fingers because of the machine.Another complaint was that they would work 13 hours a day no matter the weather.The other complaints were that the workers wanted higher wages.

Anonymous said...

P6 Litzye D. & David S.

Some of the grievances of the factory workers are that people who worked in the factory worked too much and worked too long. Another grievance was that they didn't want a job because it would cause them to get hurt while they're working. Workers were also unhappy because they wouldn't get paid enough money.

Anonymous said...

Bryan C. & Diana R.
Period 6
The factory workers were not happy because of all there complaints they had against factories. One of the complaints was that the workers didn't get paid enough for all the hard work they did. Another one of there complaints were they worked day and night,summer through winter for thirteen hours a day. The last complaint was that the company didn't take care of the workers and didn't do nothing about the injuries workers got.In conclusion factories back then was cruel compared to today.

Anonymous said...

P6 Katherine L. & Yulisa M.
The workers at the factory were unhappy. They were unhappy because they had many unfair things in the company. For example they worked for many hours so they didn't have time to sleep, eat, or do anything enjoyable. Also they got paid a small amount of money for all the work they had done. The workers were not allowed to have the right to strike. Lastly, they were unhappy and in horrible condition. They were upset because the company owners had said that they would be happy and in good condition.

Anonymous said...

Christopher S. and Karen M. PERIOD 6

Some grievances are that they work thirteen hours a day in the summer time, and from daylight to dark in the winter. They also complained because they were stressed and tired. Another disagreement that the women had was that they got paid too little money and the company didn't care if the got hurt or not.On (reading 3) the women say that they were unhappy and in bad condition, the y were mad because the owners told them that they would be happy and in good conditions but they weren't.

Anonymous said...

Period 6 Brandon C & Victor F

Workers in the factories had bad conditions while working and were complaining about their work conditions. One of the complaints was that workers worked long hours and did not get enough sleep or rest. Another complaint was that some of the workers agreed to the pay but they didn't agree to the fact that their job could be taken away. A last complaint was that there was a lot of talk of how there was peace and prosperity but in reality that was not the case, the workers were paid little and they worked long hours.

Anonymous said...

PER. 6 LIDIA A
SOME OF THE GRIEVANCES IN THE 1840'S IS THAT THE FACTORIES MAKE THE GIRLS WORK FROM DAYLIGHT TILL' DARK. AT 4:30 THEY HAD TO BE UP AND AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING THEY HAD TO BE AT THE MILLS. THE GIRLS WEREN'T GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP THEY WERE GETTING FATIGUED(TIRED) AND WERE DOING THINGS SLOWER. ANOTHER COMPLAINT IS THAT THE COMPANY GOT TO DECIDE HOW MUCH THE WORKERS GOT AT THE MILL AND HOW THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO GO ON STRIKE. THE BOSS MADE THEM SIGN A CONTRACT STATING THAT THEY COULDN'T GO ON STRIKE. IF WORKERS DID GO ON STRIKE THE BOSS WOULD TRY TO BRIBE THEM TO COME BACK TO WORK BY SAYING THAT HE'LL GIVE THEM A BIGGER PAYCHECK BUT ONCE THEY ARE DONE WITH ALL THE WORK THE BOSS WOULD TAKE AWAY THE MONEY HE SAID HE;D GIVE THEM.

Anonymous said...

p6 Josue H & Jennifer R.

The workers were not happy working in the factory.They didnt get payed as much and they worked long hours and they didnt get to sleep as much and they will always be tired.And they wanted to get a raise and work less hours. They didnt want to work more hours because they get sick a lot so worker working in the factory werent very happy in it. They just need the money to feed their families and pay their bills.

Anonymous said...

Sevastian Plancarte & Karen Torres P:6


Workers in the factories were not happy and complained because they worked 13 hours a day and were stressed and tired. The workers complained that they worked several hours per week a did not not get a good pay check. Also workers would complain because they didn't have prosperity or independence. The owners treated workers badly and were hostile. The owners lied to community saying that their factory was in a good condition.


Anonymous said...

Joshua .L & Armando .M p.6

Some of the complains that the workers had were the amount of hours they worked. For example some workers needed to work for 13 hours a day and during the winter they worked from sun rise to sun set. Another complains that they had was about the amount of money they got paid and how they wanted a raise. If they got a raise they agreed to not do any actions that would impeded workers or the company. The last complain that they had was that the boss would lie to the people about how the workers are happy. In reality the workers are being treated as slaved.

Anonymous said...

Sevastian Plancarte & Karen Torres P:6


Workers in the factories were not happy and complained because they worked 13 hours a day and were stressed and tired. The workers complained that they worked several hours per week a did not not get a good pay check. Also workers would complain because they didn't have prosperity or independence. The owners treated workers badly and were hostile. The owners lied to community saying that their factory was in a good condition.

Anonymous said...

Orlando H.& Christian H.

Some of the grievances were that women got paid a little for the injuries they got also that they didn't get enough sleep time they worked more then they sleep.

Anonymous said...

period 6 .
viviana s .
&
jose e .

Some grievances of the factory workers in the 1840s had to deal with unsatisfactory working conditions and not enough wages. One of the complaints was that they had to work 13 hours a day in summer time, ad from daylight to dark in the winter. "...by a comparatively long sleep to resuscitate their weakened frames for the toil of the coming day. Also, women were complaining that they got paid too little and they had to agree that they wouldn't impede or stop work production. Finally, they were unhappy and they were mad because they fabric said that they would be happy and treated with rights but in reality they didn't care if they got hurt.

Anonymous said...

period 6 .
viviana s .
&
jose e .

Some grievances of the factory workers in the 1840s had to deal with unsatisfactory working conditions and not enough wages. One of the complaints was that they had to work 13 hours a day in summer time, ad from daylight to dark in the winter. "...by a comparatively long sleep to resuscitate their weakened frames for the toil of the coming day. Also, women were complaining that they got paid too little and they had to agree that they wouldn't impede or stop work production. Finally, they were unhappy and they were mad because they fabric said that they would be happy and treated with rights but in reality they didn't care if they got hurt.

Anonymous said...

P.5 Lissbeth F Bryan M

Back in the 1840's some complaints about factory workers in early industrial revolution were that in 1846 the problem was that girls worked thirteen hours a day they didn't stop only to get their evening meal. "So FATIGUED... are number of girls that they go to bed soon after their evening meal..." Another problem was in a worker contract in Cocheco Manufacturing Company,Dover, New Hampshire was the company aren't responsible for any injures while the the workers signed the contact. Also the workers get paid a small amount of money and they can't IMPEDED. The third problem in the 8140's the owners lied to the workers and said that they would be in a happy condition but it was just all FICTION.

Anonymous said...

P6 Nancy M and Javier Sandoval
Reading 1.
Some complaints that the workers had were how they were working to much and their working hours were to long.
Reading 2.
Some workers complained about the jobs they had to do.
Reading 3.
So the owners are saying that the workers are happy but it is a lie a the workers are being treated slavish beggary.
Reading 3.
Some workers would stay up all night working didn't even get to go home and didn't get paid as much as their suppose to.

Anonymous said...


This proves that it was very hard for the factory workers because they had to work long labor and not enough pay. One of the reasons it was hard for them they did not get enough time to rest because they worked thirteen hours a day. Another problem is the company did not respond to injuries and cannot sue the company. Also, the owner lied to the workers and said that the job was going to be easy and well paid. This proves it wasn't easy to work in the 1840s.

Anonymous said...

 Per 6 Liliana Becerra & Joseph Macias


One of the grievances of the factory workers were that the time the factory opened and you entered work was way too early, for the women workers they have too sleep early in order to "resuscitate" their weak bodies for the hard work of the coming day. Another grieving complaint was that the workers were unsatisfied with their pay. The workers agreed not to impede, or block, their work. The last complaint was that the factory owners had said that the workers are going to have the best time in the factory, in conditions and that the workers are the future of producing class in the country and that all of that is just fiction or lies.

Anonymous said...

P6 Lesley V. & Alexa V.
The workers in the factory had several grievances. One of their grievances was that the bosses at the factory would tell the community the people that their workers would have a happy condition and have their independence but they were actually lying because they wanted the people to buy their products. Another grievance is the woman would work many hours and have little sleep and breaks and would get fatigue of working all the 15 hours a day. Also another grievance is the workers complained they worked to many hours and not enough money.

Anonymous said...

P.6 2-7-14 Angel Hermosillo Jonathan Guerrero
Some complaints are workers worked too late and too early(the habinger).Another grievances is how the workers do not get payed as much as they were supposed to be payed.The last complaint is how workers don't have good conditions and of the slavish beggary that the bosses do to the workers like lying about good conditions and prosperity(work contract)

M. Albert said...

Workers in factories in the 1840s did not have good working conditions. In The Harbinger, the writer said that the workers had to put in long hours, leaving them exhaused and having little time to rest. A work contract for a company in New Hampshire said that the pay of workers would only be determined by the company, and workers had to agree not to "impede" the business, or go out on strike, if they wanted work at that particular factory. Finally, although the Voice of Industry says businesses told the public that working conditions were "happy," the reality was that those conditions were no more than "slavish beggary," so that even if the workers were not actually slaves, they were treated like slaves.