CHAPTER VII. 



EFFECTS OF THE WAR OF THE REBELLION UPON THE 

 LABOR OF THE COUNTRY. 



rilHE war of the rebellion marks a period of very 

 -L important changes in our industrial and social 

 conditions, coming upon us, as it did, after forty years 

 of mechanical development in the direction and with 

 the effects herein partially described. The beginning 

 of the year 1861 found the people of our country in 

 the greatest distress, which had been for years increas- 

 ing and intensifying. Thousands of operatives were 

 out of employment and destitute, begging, clamoring 

 for bread, and perishing with cold and hunger ; whilst 

 those who were fully or partially employed were in 

 receipt of wages that would hardly supply the barest 

 necessaries of life. Trade and business of every nature 

 suffered in common with the industries of the country, 

 and distress and demoralization everywhere prevailed. 

 Whilst the country was in this condition hostilities 

 commenced, and a call was made for 75,000 men in the 

 North; shortly afterwards 300,000 more were enlisted ; 

 then more, and more, until all the late idle and par- 

 tially employed men and women in the country had 

 been gathered into the army, or some industry, and 

 were paid an amount that enabled all to live more 

 liberally, more comfortably than ever before. Not 



149 



