They began recruiting young women from the farms. To lure them to work in their factories they built houses where they could live. These houses were supervised by older women who made sure the girls lived by a high moral standard, and urged them to attended church, to read, to write and to attend lectures. The girls worked in the mills/factories from 12 to 13 hours a day, six days a week for $3.50 per week salary. On the other hand “male workers made 50 percent more than women. And white workers commanded significantly higher wages than African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, or Chinese”(Freeman).The entry of a large number of women into the labor force led to raising the consciences of the hour of labors, “adding to the pool of unskilled workers, women and children made possible a fuller division of labor in lines of skill” (Roediger). 3Around 1800 factories became more prevalent. Workers and employers no longer worked side by side. Employers were more concerned with the cost of labor than with the welfare of the workers. As factories grew workers became more involved in forming unions to protect their interests. Their tactics in the beginning were quiet simple; members agreed on wages they thought were fair and would not work for less. They also urged the owners to employ union help. Of course they pledged not to work unless the owners agreed to pay that amount.In 1806 when eight shoemakers in Philadelphia held an unsuccessful strike the factory owners found that the courts were an effective weapon to protect their interests. The eight shoemakers were brought to trial by the factory owners and the courts ruled that any organizing of workers to raise wages was an illegal act. In later cases the courts ruled that these same acts might be criminal. It took until 1842 when a higher court ruled in favor of the unions ruling that it was not unlawful for workers to participate in peaceful union activities. The ruling...
