Life During the Industrial Revolution — Reading Comprehension

Premium Resource

Grades

Standards

D2.HIS.2.3-5
D2.HIS.3.3-5
RI.4.3
RI.4.4
W.4.2

About This Reader

This engaging reading passage introduces students to life during the Industrial Revolution in the United States. It explores how new inventions, factories, and the growth of cities changed daily life for families. Students learn about important figures, working conditions, and the start of the Progressive Era. The passage highlights bravery, unity, and problem-solving as people worked together to improve their communities. Included are a glossary of key terms, a timeline of major events, a multiple-choice quiz, and writing activities. Graphic organizers help students analyze cause and effect and compare ideas. This resource supports C3 and Common Core standards, making it perfect for building literacy and historical understanding. A read aloud audio and Spanish translation are included to support all learners.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Jane Addams.
Source: Library of Congress - Gerhard Sisters

The Industrial Revolution changed the United States in many ways. It started in the late 1700s and continued through the 1800s. Before this time, most people lived on farms. They made what they needed by hand. But new inventions and machines made it possible to produce goods faster than ever before.

Factories began to appear in cities. These factories used machines to make cloth, shoes, and tools. Many families moved from farms to cities to find work. Life in the city was very different. Streets were crowded and noisy. People worked long hours, sometimes six days a week.

Children and adults often worked together in factories. Jobs could be hard and dangerous. Some people worked in coal mines. Others worked in textile mills where cotton was spun into thread. A reformer named Lewis Hine took photographs of working children. He said, "There is work that profits children, and there is work that brings profit only to employers." His pictures helped people understand why laws were needed to protect workers.

During this period, many new people came to the United States. Immigrants left their countries to find jobs and a better life. They brought new foods, languages, and traditions. Cities grew quickly as more people arrived. Life was busy and filled with change.

Some leaders saw that workers needed help. Women like Jane Addams started settlement houses. These were places where families could get food, learn English, and find jobs. People joined together to fight for safer workplaces and fair pay. These efforts became part of the Progressive Era, a time when Americans worked to solve big problems.

Over time, new laws improved working conditions. Children could go to school instead of working all day. Workers gained rights, and cities became better places to live. The Industrial Revolution showed what people can do when they work together to make life better for everyone.

Interesting Fact: The first electric lights in U.S. factories made it possible for people to work even after the sun went down!

What changed how goods were made?

New machines and inventionsOld farm toolsHorses and wagonsShips and boats

Who took photos of child workers?

Lewis HineJane AddamsHenry FordThomas Edison

Where did many families move for work?

CitiesMountainsDesertsFarms

Why did immigrants come to the U.S.?

To find jobs and a better lifeTo visit family onlyTo study animalsFor vacation

How did settlement houses help people?

Food, jobs, and English lessonsSold carsBuilt trainsTaught only math

What did new laws do for workers?