The Industrial Revolution in USA - Essay Example

The rules that were formulated after the Industrial Revolution between the year 1835 and 1848 allowed husbands to claim their wives wherever they found them and they could always snatch the women of their wages. There were instances where a widow could be snatched all the husbands’ belongings; fathers could distribute their wealth to all their children disregarding their daughters, women had no property rights. (Stearns and Walkowitz. 57) Also in some cases, they had their rights upheld and they could be paid their wages whenever they worked for overtime and also they were not overworked if payments were not necessary.

Women in some instances were guaranteed a better life in the factories and there were no unjust laws. The mill girls who had their own homes were allowed moderate time to work and also the opportunity to teach in some schools during summer months. Some widows got the opportunity to be housed in corporation houses where the girls were also kept. More so, these girls were given the opportunity to read the novels and the bibles and some other good books that could appeal to them. They participated in critical writings and this was the only avenue they could voice their grievances.

Many girls were put in a situation that only enabled them to extend their help to their drunken fathers and widowed mothers. Many girls were forced to work and their wages used to pay school fees for their male counterparts, although the influence of industrialization made them uniformly good in terms of character, religion as well as their health. When wages were significantly reduced, girls challenged it by engaging in an industrial strike. (Stearns and Walkowitz. 57)