The Ten Hour Movement

In the Lowell mills during the 1840's, mill workers worked a typical work day of
14 hours long. Standing for fourteen hours a day, six days a week, breathing cotton dust, the girls complained about low wages, varicose veins, long hours, lack of opportunity for education, and generally being treated like slaves. 
SEE THE  MILL TIMETABLE OF A TYPICAL WORK DAY 
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The Ten Hour Movement began in 1844 as mill girls were asked to sign a petition to pressure the mills to change to a ten hour work day. Many feared that if they signed a petition calling for a ten-hour day, they would be fired and blacklisted from working at any mill. By 1845, a 130 foot long scroll with 4,500 names on it was sent to the government. The Ten-Hour Movement petition was not passed at that time. In 1874, the law was passed, but girls were not working in the mills any more. Immigrants had taken their places. 

WOULD YOU SIGN THE TEN-HOUR PETITION?

Imagine you are a mill worker in the Lowell mills in 1845.  You have been asked to sign the ten-hour petition. You are not happy with the working conditions, and want to support the movement, but you are afraid you might be fired if you sign. 

Read the Petition first

Now, you must decide!  Fill in the following to sign or decline.

Mill worker's name ( You may create or use an historical character's name)

I WILL sign the ten-hour petition.

I WILL NOT sign the ten-hour petition.

Please state the reason for your action.  (Selected submissions will appear on our petition page.)

Email address, OPTIONAL
(We will use your email to contact you when your signature is published on the petition.  We do not save or use your email address in any other way.)

View our PETITION, read why others have signed or declined.

I'm a Factory Girl Filled with Wishes
I'm a factory girl
Everyday filled with fear
From breathing in the poison air
Wishing for windows!
I'm a factory girl
Tired from the 13 hours of wok each day
And we have such low pay
Wishing for shorten work times!
I'm a factory girl
Never having enough time to eat
Nor to rest my feet
Wishing for more free time!
I'm a factory girl
Sick of all this harsh conditions
Making me want to sign the petition!
So do what I ask for because I am a factory girl
And I'm hereby speaking for all the rest!

The Sun Never Sets

I, am a fac-tory gi-rl
working hard i-n low-ell,
I can't tell when days are past
Because, i am in jail!
I, am a fac-tory gi-rl
dress like a bird, and walk like a seal,
tie my hair up, and short my finger nail,
as long I... am a factory gi-rl...
My days, go like a clap (1CLAP)
so fast!
I, never see the sun sets...
most...the sun raise...
My, music, are mor-nig rooster
slap-ping my wake...
I, am a fac-tory gi-rl......
hoping...to be free!!!

 

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