In the early 19th century, as industrialization began to take place in America, the lives of American citizens changed drastically. Manufacturing was becoming a greater part of the economy than agriculture, and transportation was changing the ways of life for everyone. By the middle of the 19th century, U.S. manufacturing surpassed agriculture in value, and by the end of the century, it was the world's leader. For some people, this change was great, but for others, it only led to more hardships.
             Inventions from the late 18th century provided for the factory systems that were to be used in the early 1800s. The ideas of Samuel Slater, who used British secrets to help develop American industry, contributed to the factory system very greatly. In the 1820s, New England became the country's leading manufacturing center because of the area's abundant waterpower to operate new machinery, and its good seaports for shipping goods. The decline of New England's overseas industry made money available for manufacturing. Other northern states such as New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania followed the example made by New England. The factory system quickly began to expand. This expansion led to more jobs for people, more consumer goods, and less imports. In this way, the expansion benefited the colonies.
             At first, it was hard to find workers for the mills and factories, because factories had to compete with the lure of cheap land in the West. Textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts recruited young farm women and housed them in company dormitories. Many factories looked at the Lowell System as an example, and manufacturers began to employ young children. These girls were fed, housed, and there were even parties thrown for them. Aside from this good treatment, the regulations in Lowell were strict. They were not to be absent from their work without consent of the overseer, and they were engaged to the system for...