Bad Working Conditions During The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a major turning point in history that took place between 1760 and the mid 1800’s. During this time frame, a variety of different machines were invented and put in factories to make workers and everyday people’s lives easier. These machines had to be run by people such as women and even children because the men were mostly in coal mines. Some of the many negative consequences about these new jobs and new machines being invented were; child labor, physical abuse on the job, and unsafe working conditions. While some might argue that Industrialization had primarily positive consequences for society because more jobs became available, it was actually a negative thing.

However the industrial revolution was not all good. The working class had no other option but to turn up at the factories for work. The factory system resulted in over-crowding and unhygienic conditions and also the development of slum areas. Many factory owners who needed cheap, unskilled labour, profited greatly by using children and women to run the machines and because they were small and could fit in tunnels as well not only that they were more suited for factory life because they could adopt more quickly and easily than men. By the age of 6, many children were already working twelve hours a day in factories. These children had no free time to do anything plus they earned low wages. Hardly any of the children went to school they had to work in factories to earn money. Quite a lot of the people who worked at factories got sick and died because of the toxic fumes in the factories. While others were severely injured because the machines didn't have safety guards so many children got killed by machinery when they fell asleep and got caught up in the machines. Many of the children who were orphans, hired by the employers would

The industrial revolution began in England in the 1770s and expanded to areas in Prussia and Bohemia by the 1840s. The scope of industrialization was huge and forever changed the landscape of modern society by increasing production, national wealth, and technological advancement. However, it also resulted

“People were forced to work in harsh, dangerous conditions in order to be able to provide for their families” (Document 8). Although most people were grateful to have a job, the conditions that they were forced to work for in order to provide for their families were unfair to them, and their families. Just because they obtained a job one day, doesn’t mean they would have it the next day, for example, if an employee was sick, or injured and had to miss a day of work the employee wasn’t guaranteed to continually have the job after they finally recovered. “I am at work in a spinning room tending four sides of warp which is one girl’s work” (Document 1) working conditions such as these are very harsh for the employees, not only do they have to keep up with the work of four people. Not only do the employees have to keep up with the sea of work, they also have to attempt not to get injured with the very harsh conditions lots of employees did in fact end up with serious injuries. “5 in the morning till 9 at night…” (Document 7) Those were the harsh working hours according to twenty-three year old Elizabeth Bentley. Long hours such as those were very common for factory workers, which made life hard for employees. Not only was harsh working conditions bad, but also the worst consequence that came about through the Industrial Revolution was child

During the industrial revolution in Britain, the usage of child labourers dramatically increased as it became a cheap and easy form of labour. This lead to the continued abuse of many children in textile factories. In 1833, the Factory Act of 1833 was put forth which dictated that no children under the age of nine would work. Children ages nine to thirteen wouldn’t work more than nine hours a day and children ages thirteen to eighteen wouldn’t work more than twelve hours a day. In addition it introduced the circulation of four factory inspectors who were to enforce the new legislation. They were to certify whether children had received their compulsory education of two hours each day and report conditions to the government. This act brought forth attention and sparked debates from the public which made stronger note of the working conditions for children.

The Industrial Revolution started in the eighteenth century in Britain. There were innovative advances in the society that led to the faster production of goods. Prior to this even started, agriculturists needed to leave their property and urbanize to the urban areas. The main accessible occupation that required job was the frightening industrial facilities. These factories changed the lives of these agriculturalists by making them work numerous hours.

The Industrial Revolution was a period where many major technological advances, such as the steam engine, were made. It began in Britain some time after 1750. The technological advances allowed for much higher rates of production, but had several other effects as well. The Industrial Revolution altered the political situation, social structure, and economic standing of Great Britain. Drastic change in technology during the Industrial Revolution led to several political changes.

A regular shift for any factory worker was 12-16 hours a day, six days a week. The poem “My Boy” written by a working mother during the Industrial Revolution says that her “labor drives [her] forth…” (Document 2) until “…night when [she is] free.” (Document 2) She is “a stranger… to [her] child and [her child] one to [her].” (Document 2). This was not unheard of during this time. Parents and their children being driven away from each other to provide for the family. However, the mother working at the factory provided better financial opportunities for her family and in turn a higher standard of living. Elizabeth Bentley, a woman who testified on the child labor in Britain, when asked “what time [she] began work at the factory” (Documents 7) responded “when I was six years old” (Document 7). She worked in the mill “for about a year” (Document 7). Long hours and separation of family weren’t the only problem when it came to the Industrial Revolution. The use of child labor was also a significant

Since there were no work regulations during this time period, there were no standards for safety or how one had to behave towards others. Accidents in these shops were extremely common. The women wanted to get as much done as they possibly could because they were paid by the piece, and in their rush, their fingers would get caught in the machines. Sadie Frowne talks about the time when she was injured, “Sometimes in my haste I get my finger caught and the needle goes right through it. It goes so quick, tho, that it does not hurt much.” Small children were also working in these unsanitary sweatshops. They were especially needed if a machine stopped working and an adult was unable to reach the broken part;

Children lost many body parts due to working on these machines they’re required to use. Which goes back to why working in factories is very harmful. Although, these kids already knew what they were getting themselves into while working in the factory. They fairly needed the benefits that were provided for the hours they worked. Plus during this time, it was very difficult to come across work during this time era.

It was common for a child to lose some kind of body part during their working shift. For example, a child could lose fingers, toes, eyes, arms, feet, and in extreme cases their life’s. Children were used to crawl into machines where adults could not reach in order to fix the machine needed to get the jobs done. For example, in large machines it was common for parts to get stuck and prevent the machine from working the proper way. An adults body, even their hands and arms were too big to reach inside the machines. A child would go into or reach for the part that was preventing work from happening and if they were lucky enough to pull back on time, some would come out fine. However, if a child would not come out on time it was almost impossible to be safe. If a child was no longer able to work they would simply throw them out and have them replaced by another child who needed money to take food

Often, the children were made to work “from five in the morning till nine or ten at night”, with “no time … for breakfast and no sitting for dinner and no time for tea”. These constant and long working hours not only can lead to mental and physical suffering, but they can also cause an increase in injury rates from working in general due to mental and physical fatigue. Additionally, the superiors of the workers often beat the children mercilessly. According to a firsthand account from John Birley, who was a child laborer at the time, a supervisor once “knocked me down knocked me down and threatened me with a stick. To save my head I raised my arm, which he then hit with all his might. My elbow was broken. I bear the marks, and suffer pain from it to this day, and always shall as long as I live...”. This act demonstrates the cruelty the child workers suffered at the hands of the superiors, due to the utter lack of regulation of these textile mills. In fact, the replaceable nature of their jobs and the Combination Acts essentially forced the children to endure this treatment, as they had no other way to support their families. This account is supported by similar accounts from an unbiased third-party doctor who investigated the mills. He stated that not only were the textile mills “nurseries of disease and vice”, the

The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing and technology had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the world. The Industrial Revolution began in the United Kingdom as large deposits of coal and iron were found throughout the land which brought the rise of factories and machines, the idea then subsequently spread throughout the world. It was perhaps one of the greatest moments in human history, as it gave rise to industrialization and the switch from manpower to machine power. It completely revolutionized the world and forever changed the course of humanity. However, many scholars and historians believe that the Industrial

The Industrial Revolution was a period from 1790 to 1870 that originated in England. The Industrial Revolution was a time of great advancements such as going from handmade to machine & factory made products. During this period of time, drastic changes in manufacturing, agriculture, trade, technology, knowledge and transportation have taken place. Therefore, the Industrial Revolution was beneficial to the entire world.

Factories are unsafe for children because there are many threats to their safety. It was also unsafe because the owners of the factories only cared that they were healthy enough to work. They also did not feed them well for example ,John Birley said ¨conditions were terrible we were paid little and fed mush¨.(House of lords interview with John Birley) Dr.Ward said he witnessed people with flesh stripped off sometimes to the bone and rare occasions limbs were ripped clean off. And they worked from when they woke till they went to sleep for example ¨We had 45 minute breaks for a 16 hour work day¨. Dr.Holmes claimed that the factory he had inspected was perfectly healthy and every child was completely healthy. But he was friends with the owner