Respuesta :
One of the first strikes of cotton-factory operatives that ever took place in this country was that in Lowell, in October, 1836. When it was announced that the wages were to be cut down, great indignation was felt, and it was decided to strike, en masse. This was done. The mills were shut down, and the girls went in procession from their several corporations to the “grove” on Chapel Hill, and listened to “incendiary” speeches from early labor reformers.
One of the girls stood on a pump, and gave vent to the feelings of her companions in a neat speech, declaring that it was their duty to resist all attempts at cutting down the wages. This was the first time a woman had spoken in public in Lowell, and the event caused surprise and consternation among her audience.
Cutting down the wages was not their only grievance, nor the only cause of this strike. Hitherto the corporations had paid twenty—five cents a week towards the board of each operative, and now it was their purpose to have the girls pay the sum; and this, in addition to the cut in the wages, would make a difference of at least one dollar a week. It was estimated that as many as twelve or fifteen hundred girls turned out, and walked in procession through the streets. They had neither flags nor music, but sang songs, a favorite (but rather inappropriate) one being a parody on “I won’t be a nun. ”
According to Harriet Robinson, the surprising thing about the strike was that it caused surprise and confusion among workers.
- Some workers were willing to go for strike, while others wanted to continue working in mills.
- The first strike occurred in the cotton mills of Lowell, Massachusetts where there was an announcement that workers wages will be deducted.
- The Lowell Mills were a textile factory in the United States where young women were hired to work.
- The Lowell mill was worse as women were forced to work in bad conditions with noise, confinement, and lint-filled air.
- It became necessary to go for a strike as their wages were cut down.
Therefore we can conclude that the strike played a vital role among workers through which they demanded their wages and better conditions in factories.
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