Curated OER
Early Industrialization & Economic Growth (2)
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students answer 10 multiple choice questions regarding the American Industrial Revolution. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Take It Apart; Put It Together
Students design various items from recyclable materials. In this environmental friendly lesson, students study the construction of gift bags, envelopes and pocket folders and take them apart to make templates. Students construct their...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Primary Sources: The Lowell System
An hour-long professional development video on teaching how the Lowell System was a departure from traditional labor practices. Features experienced classroom teachers. Materials and a complete lesson plan are also provided.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Robert Fulton
This website contains biographical information about Robert Fulton, including the events leading up to his design of the first successful steamboat.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Westward Expansion
This article offers a detailed history of early 19th century westward migration and the social diversity of the pioneers moving west.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Was There an Industrial Revolution?
This lesson plan from EDSITEment discusses the actual factors leading to the Industrial Revolution in the post-civil war era. Contains many links to primary source materials.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 159: Lowell, Massachusetts
History of Lowell, Massachusetts, textile mill that underwent tremendous growth in the early 1800s, and led to the creation of America's first industrial city. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio broadcast.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: West River 1776 1896: Study of Early Industry
Presents detailed information on the development of industry in Westville, Connecticut 1776-1896. Discusses where and why development happened. Includes lesson plans, but slides referred to are not provided.
PBS
Who Made America?: Francis Cabot Lowell:consolidated Manufacturing
A brief biography of Francis Cabot Lowell which describes his role in the industrial revolution in the United States. Read about the factory system, the so-called Lowell girls, and mechanization of cloth manufacture.
Other
Lecture Notes: Textile Factories Come to the u.s.
Clemson University provides a historical overview of the wave of textile factories, including Slater and Lowell, that cropped up in the northeast. Hyperlinks to additional information.
Other
University at Albany: Recruitment of Female Operatives in the 1840's
Tells the story of Lowell Mill factory and the "capturing" of poor white females to "work" in the factories. From "Voice of Industry," January 2, 1846.
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: December 20: First American Cotton Mill
Library of Congress site gives a brief history and photo of the water-powered cotton mill that was built by Samuel Slater with links to related material for more in-depth study. Also, links to information about other historical events.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: First American Cotton Mill
This 4-page article provides an overview of the first American cotton mill put into operation in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and the history of textile industry.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: The Industrial Revolution
The first three pages of this extensive essay on the railroad in United States history focuses on the early railroad and the Industrial Revolution in the United States.
Other
Woonsocket Connection: Samuel Slater: Rhode Island's Mill Villages
Pictures and text describing the conditions and what it was like working in the Rhode Island mill villages.
Other
Woonsocket Connection: History of Providence
A general history of the founding of Providence, (Rhode Island) and the other three towns that together formed Providence Plantation.
University of Houston
University of Houston: An American Industrial Revolution Unit: Rise of Labor
Students learn about the history of the labor movement in Industrial America, including some of the major unions that emerged and the most well-known strikes. Next, they make connections to the role of unions today. They then work in...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Mc Cormick Reaper
Read interesting facts about Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical horse-drawn reaper 1n 1831.
Boston College
19th Century Architecture: Mills
This site presents pictures of the architecture of different mills located in the northeastern part of the United States.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Treasures: Fulton's Submarine
This site from the American Treasures of the Library of Congress provides information on the first submarine built by Robert Fulton. The information that is provided is somewhat brief but factual, and worth checking out on the subject.