Booming in America, industrialization boosted the economy and social status of various areas, mainly the Northeast throughout the 1800's. Throughout Massachusetts and mainly along the Merrimack River, many large mills were built before 1840. The construction of these mills strengthened the economy by creating new jobs and in turn, attracted many workers. Industrialization was most prevalent in a town called Lowell, a mining town. Consisting of mostly female mill workers, they lived together in boarding houses across from the factory. Their bonds that formed as a result of their close living quarters, similar job, and same social status caused a strong united feeling in the community, which would contribute to the early start of the formation of labor unions.
Spending all their time with fellow workers, most women with an occupation at the mill would work and socialize seventy-three hours a week with their fellow workers. Through long periods of time spent together, the women put aside the work relationship and found new friendship with their coworkers. Most women workers at the mill saw that they shared a common goal: to gain money and recognition as independent in society. Trusting and depending on each other more, the workers had a growth in their friendships and had faith that their friends would share shifts, even. Women were now allowed to have their own independent pay through the allowance of the system. Wanting to develop the bonds even further, companies established a buddy system where the new workers would be paired with old experienced workers. The close housing of a good majority of the workers coerced many to eat and spend time with other workers regardless if they wanted to or not. Given a very short window of time for relaxation, women workers were only given three hours a day generally to spend time away from those that they were surrounded by usually. Living in the same space forced the growth of bonds between many workers due to the fact that six to eight women could be crammed in a room at a time.
