If I was an American worker in the 1800s, to improve my situation I WILL TRY AND GET INTO A SKILLED TRADE.
Most workers in the 1800s worked in industries and they normally hold the position of manual labors, that is, they have no skill their only advantage is their strength. Thus, the employers typically pay them peanut as their wages. In order to improve one's situation in this kind of environment, one can learn a skilled trade that is in demand, which earn better wages, this will allow one to have a unique skill and to get reasonable wages for one's effort.