Aug.+29th-+Sept.+2

Notes:

8-29-11 Intro Into Research Methods
 * context: set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event or situation
 * What major trends may have affected the author of the document? Political, social, economic, and/or cultural.
 * How does this document fit into the historical context?
 * How does this document better our understanding of the event?
 * thesis: a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved to be maintained against objections
 * perspective: a way of regarding situations, facts, etc., and judging their relative importance.
 * Who is the author? What are his/her biases/prejudices/background?
 * audience: the person or persons of which a product is directed towards.
 * Was the document prepared for a specific audience?
 * significance: the importance of an item, its impact

8-30-11 No notes taken today!

8-31-11 Work Before/After Revolution

Before
 * Sun determined work day
 * The U.S. was 80% rural
 * Things were sent by river/canals
 * Western European immigrants
 * Horse, steam, water power
 * Mills

After
 * 12 hour work days
 * 60% rural
 * sent by railroad
 * Eastern European immigrants
 * Electric Age
 * Factories / sweat shops
 * Rise of big business

September 1, 2011

Today in class we went over children and women labor. We also learned about Factory Towns.

Women -Starting wage was $1.50 -No Set hours -Unpaid overtime -Normally worked 7 days a week -Could be sexually abused

Children -10 to 14 hour work days with limited breaks. -Bosses were very strict with children -Started as young as 3 -Money went to their parents -Worked 6 days a week

Factory Towns -Working conditions were horrible -Miners couldnt stand streight up. -Miners would develop black lung, and wouldn't be medically covered. -Miners could be evicted from homes if they'd protest. -Everything was controlled by the same person or same group of people.