Plantation and Factory Rules

Plantation and Factory Rules:

United States has always been the prime definition of change; however the years between 1800 and 1860 can be termed as the social revolution era for this country. Extensive evolution took place in the time period, which can be attributed to this change. Large population expansion was noted during these years, according to statistics it was 35% per decade, which to this date stands as the largest expansion rate of population in American history. This was also the time when U.S. started to experiment with technology, which complemented the continuous economic and societal transformations (Mooney, 1957). For the first time the concept of steam powered factories was being made common, also things like cargo boats and trains which were previously considered as only luxuries were now regularly being used for cargo and shipping purposes, making it easier to not only produce commodities but also move them from place to place.

This in return gave birth to more wealth and growing opportunities for middle and working class workers and their families. Immigrants from Ireland and Germany started to move in the States, and the ratio of Americans who lived in urban areas and worked in factories increased massively. This is also where a division line was forming between northern and southern part of America.

The Northern and Southern Diversifying Separation: In 1850's the southern region, an explosion in cotton and wheat was observed, but only a small minority enjoyed it namely the lords and the plantation owners (Crumpacker, Martha & Crumpacker. 2007). People in the south still depended on slavery to make ends meet, and hence this was also the time period when America saw a growth in its slavery "sector" which in the past had been predicted to diminish and die by the 1800's. Where the south remained close to their conservative roots so that their traditional culture could be preserved, the Northern region progressed in the opposite direction, becoming more self-motivated and adopted a reform minded psychology. The desire towards change in the North came into existence when the religious sector became more diversified and the ruling of living a clean spiritual life was taking roots outside the reforms of the church. The catalyst for the entire situation was economic boom, which was becoming bigger by the passing time, providing the white man all the reason for a reform. The Northerners demanded for a more disciplined society unlike the South, and hence adopted discipline towards work, which resulted in better production of goods and dynamic society. No one ever saw any reason to stop such motivation since everyone except the South were in favor of cleaning America of all its impurities including manner of unhealthy habits, greed, slavery, and even male dominance (Eaton, 1962).

Factory vs. Plantation in the North and South: by the 1860's the conflict between the north and the south had increased so much, that it threatened to separate itself from the other. The main reason was that both the region's economies felt threatened by the other and this was the main reason of the Civil War. The South was entirely depended on the production of cotton, which after the introduction of the cotton gin apparatus was being made in large quantities; hence making South more depended on slavery. In comparison, slavery was banned in the North though the working condition as compared to the South were poor, but the factory system was a more advanced view of looking at industrialization opening up possibilities of employment, growth and cheaper commodities (Carter, Philip & Russell. 2001).

By the 1860's both north and south were moving towards opposite directions but with the same goal in mind; that being of mass production. While in the North factories were being promoted, plantations were fixing their grounds in the south. These similarities helped both the regions to conclude that they needed to revamp its treatment with its workforce by providing more incentives to the factory workers and for a change at least stop treating the slaves in the South as one's own private property. Because the emerging differences made the southerners feel abandoned by the system on which they based their economy on.

Plantation vs. Factory Life: In 1789, when the first mill was established no one realized it was going to be a hell hole for the people. slavery was the most common the mid-1800's where the slaves from the south tried to make sense of the unjust treatment they received by making the workers from north insecure about their working conditions, claiming that the northerners had a worst lives as compared to the south. Northern rejected this notion to keep their face, but in reality it was exactly what was happening. Factory workers felt injustice because of the comfortable way as compared to them, the southerners were treated with. Northerners were mostly fatigued because of the long hours they had to put in their work and sometimes consecutive days in length, leaving them with no time to have a family live and a social standing (Eaton, 1966).

However, in the south, since plantations were established even before factories, sometimes entire generations were seen growing up, getting married and raising children at the same plantation. These slaves spend more time with their family and children because they used to work with them, this is where the conflict started that led to the civil war, where slaves at the end of the day did get to see and spend time with their families, and factory workers did not have the luxury to do so (Charles. 1993). Where working in a factory meant professional growth and better wages with the added point that workers were not subjected to extensive torture like the slaves of the south were; yet the workers felt blessed to at least catch some hours of rest to keep them standing at work. While in the south, plantations promised comfortable living quarters and disciplined routine and the family life, discrimination was in abundance due to the African slave population.