Industrialization and Labor Condition

Chapter 2 Activity; Using Primary Sources: Industrialization and the Condition of Labor
The book thinking through the passed dedicates the entire second chapter to describing industrialization and the labor conditions that existed in the early 1900's. It features a collection of solicited opinions from working men and women about their work written in first person. Additional information is provided such as standard of living tables that reflect the diverse circumstances that affected americans and immigrants. The type of work these individuals engaged in the daily basis, for excessive hours and under repulsive working conditions range from mining, to shoemaking, to harness making; and those more fortunate satisfied with their jobs, filling quarrymen positions. The questionnaires given to workingmen and working women, provided the opportunity for them to express their real opinions as to whether or not they were content with their jobs, and what complaints they had. Most of them, of course, suggested that the labor hours given were too many and interfered with their desire to pursuit an education. Very few woman were listed, but those who were made a significantly less amount than men; families who had more than one person working lived fairly comfortable, but also had bigger families. Families who contained only one supplier not only worked in deplorable conditions, but also lived in them. Another curious observation that can be made, is that even immigrants of the male gender had an income lower than working american men.
This of course reflects the biases that existed against women and immigrants,   that favored american men. It also reflects the lack of legislation that allowed for even children to be overworked in the same working conditions; education was not a priority and was too expensive for most families to consider. Though wages were low, contentions extraneous, and hours excessive, workers had no choice for any signs of resistance would guarantee...