What was a significant characteristic of the workforce in the Lowell System factories?

The significant characteristic of the workforce in the Lowell System factories was single young farm women. During the early 19th century, particularly in the 1820s and 1830s, the Lowell System was a pioneering model of industrial production that employed young women, typically from rural areas. These women were often recruited directly from farms and were seen as ideal workers because they could be paid lower wages compared to men and were viewed as more compliant and less likely to unionize.

The Lowell System emphasized a specific environment for these women, often providing boarding houses, opportunities for education, and a degree of social engagement, which was quite progressive for the time. This model was part of the broader Industrial Revolution, which transformed American labor and economy.

The other choices do not accurately represent the primary workforce of the Lowell factories. While there were children and immigrant laborers in other parts of the industrial workforce, the use of single young women was a distinctive and defining feature of the Lowell System. This not only shaped the labor practices of the time but also had long-lasting impacts on women's roles in the workforce and societal expectations.