In the first half of the 19th century, the historical situation of American textile workers in the United States
October 31, 2022 09:47 Source: "China Social Sciences", October 31, 2022, Issue 2519 Author: Wang Jingyu

In the first half of the 19th century,Three important factors affecting American women are industrialization、Female culture and slavery。These factors intertwine each other,The impact on American textile workers is particularly obvious。Textile industry starts in New England, northeast of the United States,is the first economic department in the United States,It is also the main area of ​​women's early employment,Among them, the local white women constitute the main body of the industry's labor before the Northern and Southern War。New England textile workers become a new economic phenomenon in American society,Its experience projected changes in the period of economic transformation in the United States。

  Bet365 app download In 1814, the first mechanical integrated textile factory in the United States was established in Walserm, Massachusetts,In 1826, a new textile industry along the Meiri Mark River Lowell gradually formed。The northern factory represented by Royal is regarded as a model of the textile industry test,The same model since then has recovered in other parts of New England。Different from the textile factory in southern New England,Large scale of the above factory、Investment high,and the labor force is mainly white single women in rural areas in New England,This is also in sharp comparison with the main use of slaves in the southern textile factory in the United States。The cause of female workers in industrialization,The views of previous scholars are very different,The author's combination of predecessors believes that this is the product of the two -way combination of industrial capital and personal needs。

First,Comprehensive consideration of industrial capital。In the early 19th century, with the development bet365 best casino games of the westward movement,Coupled with the lack of a large number of European immigrants,Men's lack of labor lack in the eastern United States。At this time, slavery has been abolished in the north,Power weaving machines are non -child workers to control。Under the social environment at that time,Facing the negative effects of the industrialization of the UK,Women are regarded as a natural moral advantage and become the first choice of factory。More important thing is,Under the influence of the concept of "separation",Men are identified as "supporters",Female wages supplement family income,Therefore, the cost of employment is generally lower than that of male workers and non -skilled labor in the UK。

Next,Women desire economic independence。The right to go out to work is important for women's economic freedom,Young women staying at home also want to get rid of the attached position in economic transformation。At that time for women,Property rights are in the hands of their father or husband in accordance with the general law of the general law。At that time, women did not have much high salary employment choice,The salary paid by the factory is higher than that of the family production and housekeeping industry,And the northern factory pays for cash for remuneration,This is also very rare for rural areas that are mainly exchanged by objects。

again,precious education opportunities。In the retained female worker diary and letter,Records of a considerable number of female workers enter the factory to receive education。Although these female workers are rural women,Most of them have received basic education,But at that time, books in rural areas in New England were very scarce。Textile factory can just provide reading、Speech and the opportunity to go to night campus,In addition, some factories also fund female workers to publish magazines,This factory school model that attaches importance to spiritual training has attracted a lot of female bet365 live casino games workers,There are even records of studying while working while working。

  Second, the factory's management of female workers."Female Workers" was a derogatory term in the 19th century in the Western context,And is the lower status of all women。The United States advocates piety in the family field at this time、October、Pure、"Real Women" of the home,Therefore, the textile factory hires women for large -scale,In production and life, we have adopted measures that meet the division of labor and social gender specifications in production and life。Factory instead of the family with a patriarchal "protection" for female workers,It is undeniable,This management model is conducive to maintaining the social dignity of female workers,and shaped the image of a new England high -quality textile female worker represented by "Loyer Female Workers",But in fact, this is also a hidden way to use the gender view of industrial capital to oppress women。

First,Gender division of labor is very obvious。Men occupy all management positions,Responsible for picking cotton and combing cotton,and as a skilled technician responsible for repair。Female workers are responsible for all machines except for cotton,and the main operation of the spinning machine and power weaving machine。A typical working room in the factory is two male supervisors、Eighty female workers and some child workers who assist female workers。

Next,Different payments for men and women。The wages of male workers in the factory are relatively stable,Generally based on the market price of local skilled or non -skilled technology workers,But female workers in the same working category are the opposite,Unstable wages and lower than male workers。The salary of male workers is settled by day,Generally ordinary workers 85 cents,Supervisor $ 2。The salary of the female worker is a piece of piece settlement,Average 40-80 cents per day,There are also women's wages Bet365 app download that reach or even more than male workers exist,But this situation belongs to a very small number of examples。

again,Management of dormitory dormitory system。Female workers live in a collective dormitory built by the factory,Pay about 1.25 US dollars per week for accommodation fee,Food and other activities are uniformly provided by the factory。But female workers eat、Working hours have strict limits,Average daily working in a humid and closed environment 12-16 hours。Factory and dormitories have a special set of rules and regulations,Each dormitory has a special female administrator (usually widow) for supervision。If female workers violate these rules and regulations,It will be fired and included in the "blacklist"。Operating in a good stage in the factory,Even if there is any dissatisfaction with "factory autocracy",But the female worker can still accept this management for her own reputation。

 Third, a textile worker who resisted for freedom.Mr. Zhang Youlun thinks,Before the 1950s,Although there are larger class liquidity in the United States,The scale of strikes cannot be compared with the civil war,But this does not mean that the United States is a paradise。Mr. Huang Shaoxiang also pointed out,U.S. factory hire a large number of women and children,To lower the overall salary of the working class,This indicates that the US factory system has appeared in an exploitation from the beginning。1930s,Facing the internal competition of the industry,The textile industry maintains profit by improving production efficiency and controlling production costs,and mainly reduce labor costs。

Worsening the economic environment of the factory,External questioning and internal dissatisfaction are increasing。Reformists represented by Olstis Bromson thinks,American workers have suffered more serious exploitation than slavery,Exchange labor means buried marriage,Entering the factory is enough to make women shame。At the same time,Female bet365 live casino games workers believe that the factory can no longer meet their core demands based on women's culture,The practice of salary reduction also threatens economic freedom。"Sisters' Friendship" generated under strict gender management,helps to promote female workers to spontaneously unite and get out of the factory to fight for rights。

New England Loyer、Manchester、Tangton、Patson and other places constantly appear female workers' strikes。The earliest recorded female workers' strikes appeared in Potakit in 1824,In 1828, Duo Buddha Textile Women's Workers held the first separate strike,Later, Lowal's strike is larger and more representative。Royal, who was regarded as a model of the industry, appeared two female workers' strikes in 1834 and 1836,A protest of the factory to reduce cloth salary and increase accommodation costs。In 1844, to win the "ten -hour work system",Female Workers 'Organization established the "Loyer Women's Workers Reform Association" as a subsidiary agency for the New England Workers' Association,In 1845, the Female Workers Reform Association has set up in other factory cities and towns。Although the strike of female workers during this period did not achieve many substantial victories,But it is enough to make the capitalist unable to ignore the power of women。

The resistance activities of textile female workers fully reflect the American Revolutionary Spirit of "born for freedom"。These textile women's work is the daughter of New England self -cultivation farmers,Cherish the social dignity of women,Opposition to reduce wages and extend working hours。According to existing research,Female workers believe that wages are independent protection,Salary reduction will cause poverty to depend on others,This is tantamount to slavery them。Female workers will fight against British tyranny with their ancestors,Think that she is the daughter of freedom,Slave of the factory。So,In the history of women'bet365 Play online games s fighting for rights,Some scholars believe that textile female workers strive for equal pay for equal work are of pioneering significance,Because they take the initiative to have the same right to speak like men in economic life。

  Fourth, the historical influence of New England textile workers.First,Factory experience changed the marriage model and career choice of New England textile workers。Most female workers have worked for about four years,I will leave the factory to get married。Compared with the average marriage age of New England women,They get married late,And usually not marrying farmers,Instead of making a living in an industrial city。Some female workers use salary savings,Continue to study at the women's college or go to the west to find opportunities,Later became a poet、Telebetics、Female teacher、Female activist, etc.。Compared with the mother of rural New England,These textile workers undoubtedly have greater autonomy。

Next,New England textile female workers represent "professional women" and "real women" gradually separate ways。The first batch of women's wage workers during the industrialization period,Their virtues have been regarded as the pride of the American industry,But afterwards, participating in the strike was regarded as a more momentum behavior,When people think that industrialization will weaken women's temperament。After the Northern and Southern War,Textile industry is booming in the southern United States,At this time, white female workers are generally slandered by the outside world。Under the influence of female culture,until before the First World War,Most of the local white women are still in the family。

Last,New England Textile Workers witness the rise and fall of the American "Industrial Utopia"。At the beginning of the industrialization,Negative effects generated by early industrialized countries,Promote the New England textile industry bet365 best casino games from labor selection to factory management. Try to avoid repeat the same mistakes,Finally created an industry model represented by Royal,and to a certain extent relieve the fear of industrialization in the United States。In the mid -1940s,A large number of Irish male immigrants are forced to live,Start filling the vacancy of local white female workers。With the traditional gender division of labor, it is broken,Industrial mythology is also eventually dissolved in historical development。

(Author Unit: School of History of Renmin University of China)

Editor in charge: Cui Cen
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