Many influential businessmen created key steps in textile manufacturing. Machines had been created to turn cotton to thread, or thread to fabric. However, Francis Cabot Lowell was the first to condense the complicated process to a procedure that could take place under one roof. Francis Cabot Lowell’s invention of the cotton mill impacted the textile industry. Textile producers were able to be much more productive in their manufacturing. People in the industry had direct access to competition to England, which strengthened America’s economy. Many jobs were needed, and young female workers were impacted as many were hired. His invention made fabric production easier than ever.
Lowell was not originally in the textile industry. He was in the commercial …show more content…
England was the primary textile producer until the nineteenth century. England didn’t export their machinery, as they wanted no competition in cloth production. American merchants would trade with both England and France, trying to stay neutral as the the two European countries faced major conflicts. As an obvious threat to American Merchants, England announced intent to seize all neutral ships in French ports. The United States government created an embargo to forbid trade with England, which damaged Lowell’s shipping business. The embargo was lifted in 1809 but there still was not much trade with France and England. England’s textile mills were closed to America out of fear of espionage, which had happened in the past (Benson, Stock, and Brennan). Since Americans didn’t have access to British machinery, their textile production was not as fast, setting them behind. With Lowell’s mill, Americans in the textile industry had more access to directly compete with England. America’s economy prevailed and grew due to the creation of the cotton …show more content…
The machines were too complex for children to operate, and the strength of a man was unnecessary, so women ages sixteen to thirty were hired to weave, spin, warp, and card wool (Leuzzi). New England had a large supply of female labor, and women would accept much lower wages than men. Lowell created a system of circulation, as most parents, were unwilling to send their children to work. Most women would work for two to three years, then return home. As girls went home, more would be hired at the factory. This system was based upon indentured servants, apprentices, and slaves. Women who worked at the mill were not paid good wages. However, most women got jobs for independence, brain stimulation, or to get off of the farm, not for the wages. by 1831, women made up nearly 40,000 of 58,000 industrial workers. To appeal to parents, the girls had a chaperone, there was a curfew of 10 pm, and church attendance was required. Very experienced workers were known as sparehands, and they would help newcomers in the mill. After the end of the workday at seven, the workers had three hours to relax. Common activities included sewing, reading, singing, socializing, and letter writing. there was little privacy with four to eight women in a room. The jobs provided by Lowell’s mill provided women with