Working in the American Industrial Revolution
During the American Industrial Revolution, life was based largely on business and work. While in Europe, people aimed to enjoy life more than in America where you had to work to survive. This included finding cheap jobs in the new factories and trying to fight with the foreign labor force entering the country. "Whoever goes to the United States for the purpose of settling there must resolve in his mind to find pleasure in business, and business in pleasure; or he will be disappointed, and wish himself back to the social idleness of Europe," said Francis Jay Grund from England in the 1830's. In the declining economic conditions, even women children had to work to provide for their families, and little enjoyment could be held with the lond hours.
Living Conditions
As is seen today, factories often shoot out many pollutants into the environment. This was also true during the American Industrial Revolution. Factories would send into the air endless amounts of black soot. Upon building, the soot would blacken entire cities, making living conditions in and around cities/mills disgusting and unhealthy. Also, because of horrible wages in the factories, people would not be able to easily afford decent living conditions, and would often have to live in factory owned apartments either way. All in all, living conditions during the American Industrial Revolution were not great at all, at least for the common man.
("Introduction: Working in America")