In 1845, a group of young female activists from Lowell, MA organized against the textile mills.  At a time when women couldn’t vote or own property – when they were discouraged from speaking in public – these 18-22-year-olds (who had already launched America’s first women’s literary magazine) took action, sending a petition to the Massachusetts State Legislature that demanded a shorter workday, a longer meal break and cleaner air in the factories.

Help us commemorate their activism throughout Women’s History Month by choosing a name from the two thousand petition signers below, signing it in your handwriting, and posting a picture of it to Instagram.  Tag @MillGirlsMusical, @LowellNPS and #WhyWeRise – then tag three women or allies to join you.  The Lowell National Historical Park will be collecting all signatures for a display in the Park where the mill girls lived, worked and fought.