Prior to the 18th century, in the United States and Western Europe, the majority of the population lived on farms. However, during the 1700’s many remarkable new innovations came into being which caused an upheaval of sorts. “New forms of power, such as steam, replaced animal strength and human muscle. The factory system of making goods came into use. All of these advances affected patterns of living as well as working. Because society was so …showed first 75 words of 1434 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1434 total…at a stretch, these little children do some one monotonous thing- abusing their eyes in watching the rushing threads; dwarfing their muscles…befouling their lungs…bestowing ceaseless, anxious attention for hours, where science says that ‘A twenty-minute strain is long enough for a growing mind.’” (215) The majority of child laborers, mostly girls, worked in textile mills located in the South. (215) However, factory owners were driven by profit. “It pays…to grind little children into dividends.” (219)