Class and Community: The Industrial Revolution in Lynn

Book Reviewed by: Mary Kneefel

It seems the main issue Alan Dawley wants to convey in his book Class and Community the Industrial Revolution in Lynn is the American Revolution opened the doors for radical actions and ideology. He chooses to express this by following the once quaint town in Lynn, Massachusetts. The reader can appreciate his blunt style of writing, as he states why he chose to follow Lynn:

It was once a slow-paced, agricultural village nestled along the New England coastline, and because it went through a dynamic period or growth and transformation that made it factory city(8).

The only criticism in the Dawley’s writings is the introduction seemed a little unorganized. I understand the introduction is the first step of the novel and he wants to cover the bases to not lose anyone. However, it did not seem that his point was addressed to its close. In turn, reading the book was almost expecting a different focus.

Other than a few slow parts in the first chapter (which gave various amounts of shoes, produced over a few years time span), it was intriguing how he depicted the lives of each of parties involved in shoemaking, prior to the onslaught on factories. In particular the role or the journeymen and how they worked under the master, and the atmosphere of the ten-footers. Even before the arrival of factories, there was segregation between the classes, but they seemed to tolerate it and wait for their chance to be in a higher position.

Unlike the factories where they never had a chance to competition against factory owners, for prove themselves. Dawley painted an accurate portrayal of how Lynn, and small villages like it, functioned. This is heavily contrasted by the introduction of factories. Although he seems very consistent in his writing to not introduce any biases, he seems to discretely depict a negative view of how the factories changed the landscape. It was also as if there was a looming presence. Also the factories caused other problems for the residents. Older town members who had lived in Lynn for years and years saw their beloved town became invaded with floater workers. The entire town changed physically, and the attitude of the residents changed as well.

In addition, he described the working conditions of the average/lower class family so well; the reader cannot help but feel the least bit sympathetic. In mentioning the level of respect, or lack there of, offered by the relentless cold factory owners. In the midst of this, he counters with contrasting points of how journeymen, artisans use to work.

Although they often depended in the master shoemaker in a fatherly aspect, in both paternally and economically, they were content with that. Since no one owned real property other than the elite, the workers could not help but hold some sort of resentment towards those who merely delegate. Throughout the text a phrase from the introduction resonates in mind, saying, “Old forms of inequality (master/slave) were destroyed, and new forms (employer/ employee) were created” (5). He illustrated this claim extremely well. He describes the universal uniform of those working in the factory, and how no one spoke. The only noise was the clattering of machines, which in the eyes of the factory owner seemed more valuable than their life. These attitudes and ideas set the stage for his next section, which describes the strikes that the workers formed.

The action of banding together was not by any means just and figure of speech. He introduces a very interesting dynamic, but women fought the cause just as man did. Dawley makes it clear, both worked under the same conditions (although in separate rooms), same boss, and same level of respect and worth. The audience is able to get a clear image of strikes as he writes, “for a generation it was recalled with the frequency and vividness reserved for earthquakes or hurricanes…the procession included companies of militia and firemen, brass bands, and several out-of-town strike delegation” (80). Such fire and passion is captured in this text.

In reading what I appreciate most is the originality of context. Given the first Industrial Revolution occurred after the Civil War, it seems most historians focus on that and the inequality in slavery. This by no means is that is not important, however, he presented inequality against the same race. He rarely mentions African-Americans, and actually also supports gender equality. This also gives merit to the fact that everyone in the community supported one just cause. The attitude and treatment of the factory owner is so bad that it forced everyone to set aside their differences to fight for the same cause. This idea also continued on for other generations.

Children were also present at the rallies. If they were not working in the factories, they saw their fathers and mothers working together with other people in the community fighting for equality. Dawley addresses how a land where independence was demanded, can be so unequal at the same time. It is remarkable how the class system is so divided amongst the free white people can be. A search for power can be found in any society, of any member of class. It seems unfortunate though it took thousands of protestors for owners to realize they had unfair compensation for work.

The conclusion in contrast to the introduction seems to clearly state what he felt was the main argument of his point. The spirit of this radical ideology as the final lines read,

They came out of the Equal Rights tradition, but unlike their brothers and sisters who only desired ‘more’ they demanded "awl or nothing!"

This describes how the people of Lynn are able to stand-up for their rights, and not just one instance. There was actually a cycle of three strikes. The steps involved in the strikes go as follows: the strike would break out, cops were involved, and the police chief in charge would get fired. He proves Americans not only have a right to stand up for what is right, but also in the United States there are always results.