Phenix Iron Foundry from History of the Old Colony Railroad.

History of the Old Colony Railroad.

Phenix Iron Foundry.

Get to work! The Industrial Revolution was a very dynamic time in American history. During this time, the manufacturing of goods stopped happening as much in small shops and homes, and it began happening in large factories. This shift brought about changes in how people lived; many of them moved from rural areas to big cities in order to work. Additionally, they were new technologies and types of transportation, both of which shifted the direction of life for people. The early part of the Industrial Revolution in the United States took place in New England. Many historians say it began with the opening of Slater's Mill in 1793 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Samuel Slater opened his textile mill with skills he learned growing up in England, bringing his knowledge with him to the United States. Factories and mills began popping up in cities all over the States. The Industrial Revolution brought many changes to American culture. Before it began, most people lived and worked on individual farms. But with the rise in technology, people began moving to the cities to work in the factories. Cities grew larger, even to the point of being overcrowded, polluted, and unsanitary. Poorer workers typically lived in unsafe, crowded buildings. This was a big change from how life used to be lived, and it led to a shift in legal responsibilities of employers and landlords. There was also a dramatic shift in transportation during the Industrial Revolution. Instead of just horses, ships, and walking on their own two feet, people were introduced to new ways of travel including railroads, steamboats and automobiles. Can you imagine how different life must have seemed?