The+Earlier+Life+in+the+19th+Century+kcf09

EQ: Is life better now or then?

Figure out whether your life is "better" than someone living in the early 19th century using the [|data base] of 19th Century (1800-1899) primary and secondary source documents from Old Sturbridge Village. In class we will discuss what "better" means. Hmmmmm....you must utilize at least two primary and two secondary sources.

General guidelines:

Pick two topics that you will research. Find four things from the 19th Century about each topic. Find a primary source example for each. Compare and contrast them with the 21st Century Come to a conclusion on whether life was better in the 19th Century or the 21st Century

= Punishments = On farms from the ages of 6 to 7, boys and girs were indispensable members of the family labor force.

http://www.osv.org/explore_learn/document_viewer.php?DocID=577

Younge children began with chores such as shelling corn, or weeding the garden, as they grew older their chores got harder. http://www.osv.org/explore_learn/document_viewer.php?DocID=577


 * Girls watched and worked with their mother and older sister, and boys watched or worled with their father or older brother**

http://www.osv.org/explore_learn/document_viewer.php?DocID=577


 * Working for a few cents a day, boys picked stones, and sticks out of yard's for neighbors or people near by, while the girls cooked and cared for children.**

http://www.osv.org/explore_learn/document_viewer.php?DocID=577

With all of the chores in the 19th century I would rather live in the 21st century. Back in the 19th century, parents depended alot on thier children to help around the farm, or to help make money for the family, maybe they depended to much becuase the children didnt really have time to be children and have fun with their friends. In the 21st century kids barely have chores because there parents know that they are just kids and would rather have fun then work on a farm all day long. In these days children dont have to work for extra money for there family because both women and men of the family are able to work. Girl's in the 21st century do usually work for and learn from ther mothers, and boys usually do work for and learn from their fathers, but in these days its not frown upon if a boy wants to sew and cook and if a girl wants to cut fire wood, and butcher animals. Now a days boys and girls still pick stones and sticks out of yards, for a few dollars, and girls and boys do cook and clean and watch children for extra money too.

I would rather live in the 21st century, because there are less chores to do, and my parents depend less on me, than if we lived in the 19th century. Also us kids are not forced to work for extra money for the family. And girls are allowed do a boy's work and boy's are allowed to do a girls work.