Mechanics and Manufacturers in the Early Industrial Revolution: Lynn, Massachusetts, 1780-1860 (SUNY Series in American Social History)

Lynn, Massachusetts, once the leading shoe manufacturing city of the United States, was in many ways a model of the industrial city that much of America was to become. This study of the early industrial revolution in Lynn focuses on the journeymen shoemakers—leading participants in the making of the institutions, ideas, and events that form central themes in the history of working people in America. Spanning the time period from just after the American Revolution to the Civil War, it places special emphasis on the social changes that accompany industrialization, and the impact of those changes on workers. It examines the shoe industry and shoemaking in detail: wages and conditions of work, social clubs and political parties, strikes as well as schools, and trade unions as well as temperance societies. It also explores property ownership and social mobility, the origins and nature of class consciousness and class ideology, and the relations between workers and manufacturers across the spectrum of social institutions. This rich, detailed study of the industrial revolution in a single community is one of the few books available that combines labor history and social history, revealing the fullness and breadth in the experience of the working people. Lynn, Massachusetts, Once The Leading Shoe Manufacturing City Of The United States, Was In Many Ways A Model Of The Industrial City That Much Of America Was To Become. This Study Of The Early Industrial Revolution In Lynn Focuses On The Journeymen Shoemakers, Leading Participants In The Making Of The Institutions, Ideas, And Events That Form Central Themes In The History Of Working People In America. Spanning The Time Period From Just After The American Revolution To The Civil War, It Places Special Emphasis On The Social Changes That Accompany Industrialization, And The Impact Of Those Changes On Workers. It Examines The Shoe Industry And Shoemaking In Detail: Wages And Conditions Of Work, Social Clubs And Political Parties, Strikes As Well As Schools, And Trade Unions As Well As Temperance Societies. It Also Explores Property Ownership And Social Mobility, The Origins And Nature Of Class Consciousness And Class Ideology, And The Relations Between Workers And Manufacturers Across The Spectrum Of Social Institutions. This Study Of The Industrial Revolution In A Single Community Combines Labor History And Social History, Revealing The Fullness And Breadth In The Experience Of The Working People. Lynn-the First Century -- Rise Of The Shoe Industry -- A Community Of Mechanics -- Rise Of The Shoe Manufacturers -- The Shoemakers: Wages And Other Standards -- The Origins Of Industrial Morality -- Lynn And The New Industrial Morality: A Well-regulated Republic In Miniature -- Patterns Of Mobility And Property Ownership -- The Formation Of Class Consciousness: Experience And Ideology -- The Social Dimensions Of The Class Experience -- The Great Shoemakers' Strike. Paul G. Faler. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 256-261. Lynn, Massachusetts, once the leading shoe manufacturing city of the United States, was in many ways a model of the industrial city that much of America was to become. This study of the early industrial revolution in Lynn focuses on the journeymen shoemakers—leading participants in the making of the institutions, ideas, and events that form central themes in the history of working people in America.Spanning the time period from just after the American Revolution to the Civil War, it places special emphasis on the social changes that accompany industrialization, and the impact of those changes on workers. It examines the shoe industry and shoemaking in detail: wages and conditions of work, social clubs and political parties, strikes as well as schools, and trade unions as well as temperance societies. It also explores property ownership and social mobility, the origins and nature of class consciousness and class ideology, and the relations between workers and manufacturers across the spectrum of social institutions.This rich, detailed study of the industrial revolution in a single community is one of the few books available that combines labor history and social history, revealing the fullness and breadth in the experience of the working people.Paul G. Faler, a native of Massachusetts, is Associate Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.