\- As manufacturing inc important to economy -> goods less important
\- For those who could afford them, standard of living improved
\- Shift in economy also created small class of ppl, including factory owners & bankers, who were very wealthy & a growing middle class of ppl
\- Industrial development meant that large # of ppl who had once earned living as independent farmers & artisans became dependent on wages earned in factory
\- W/ common probs of low, pay, long hrs, & unsafe work environment, urban workers in diff cities organized both unions & political parties to protect their interests
\- 1st US labor party, founded in Philly 1828, succeeded in electing a few members of city council
\- For brief period, in 1830s, inc # of urban worked joined unions & participated in strikes
*- Commonwealth v. Hunt*
\- During 1840s, some state legislatures in North passed laws est 10-hr workday for industrial workers
\- Improvement for workers, hwvr, cont to be limited