Jobs for Immigrants
Factory Jobs and Railroads
factory cartoon
During the Industrial Revolution in America, the dreams of immigrants collided with the harsh realities of challenging living and working conditions.
Challenges Along the East Coast:
Immigrants settling on the East Coast found themselves engaged in demanding manufacturing jobs.
Long Hours, Low Wages: Factories demanded 12-hour workdays for meager pay.
Poor Working Conditions: Six-day work weeks in uncomfortable settings—hot in summer, freezing in winter, and generally dirty.
Struggles in the West:
The westward expansion, fueled by the Transcontinental Railroad, introduced its own set of difficulties.
Increased Demand: Westward expansion led to a rising need for railroad workers.
Asian Immigrants: Many immigrants from Asian countries filled these roles.
Similar Struggles: Asian immigrant railroad workers faced challenges similar to their East Coast counterparts—low wages and long work hours.
Those that immigrated to the West in the mid-late 1800s typically worked what kind of job?
education
ship-building
railroad