From Fireside to Factory (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Meta Stern Lilienthal

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0267982887 ISBN 13: 9780267982882

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

From fireside to factory: how colonial women helped forge America’s economy

Discover how the daily work of colonial women went beyond the home and paved the path to modern industry. This book links households, crafts, and early labor movements to show how women moved from domestic producers to wage earners.

In colonial times, most women ran households that produced many goods the family needed. Their work extended from sewing and textiles to food, clothes, and crafts. The shift to industrial production changed women’s roles, wages, and opportunities, as machines and factories redefined the value of their labor.

The book traces the rise of ready-made clothing, the sewing trades, and the early shoe industry—explaining how social and economic forces turned home workers into city laborers. It also highlights the emergence of labor organizations and the growing push for equality and political rights.

• How early domestic manufacture shaped gender roles and community life
• The transition from home sewing to factory outfits and wage work
• The impact of machinery on women's work and wages
• The rise of labor groups and the fight for suffrage and equality

Ideal for readers interested in American history, women's studies, and the roots of the labor movement.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0267982887
• ISBN 13: 9780267982882
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 76