Negative Effects Of Industrialization On Factory Workers

Since the 19th century, industrialization has had positive and negative effects on the lives of workers. Industrialization is defined as the large-scale introduction of manufacturing, and other productive economic activity into an area, society, country, etc. Industrialization changed the lives of workers in the nation.The industrial revolution was a turning point in history as it gave new insights to many new advancements. However, the improvements caused many negative occurrences to happen and it was not until such came about that serious revision had to begin. During the industrial revolution numerous technological, and cultural advancements took place. These positive outcomes come at the cost of the health and safety of families

The Industrial Revolution was a good struggle that Britain had to go through. There were many endeavors that Britain faced. Britain’s Industrial Revolution was a positive outcome that had many negative attributes. Britain’s battle would be similar to running a cross-country race. During a race, you face many labors that you have to go through. Some of these would be feeling too tired, having pain in your legs, or feeling like you want to give up. Compared to Britain, these difficulties that someone has during a race are the hazardous factories or the unsafe working conditions in the coal mines.

Most people regard industrialization as a positive development capable of generating great wealth and revitalizing run-down areas. Mention industrialization today, and it brings to mind large factories organized with the latest technologies in mass producing. Along with these visions comes the promise of more jobs for the community, higher rates of pay, and financial stability. One can only think of the positive influences on a community that the opening of a new factory could bring, but during what some have deemed the Industrial Revolution, industrialization only meant using machines and new power sources to accomplish a task formerly done by human and animal power. Our modern day conception of industrialization can greatly influence our

(2010) Eleven to fourteen hour workdays were common, and workers were forced to put in overtime when needed. The factory runs twenty-four hours a day and workers might receive Sundays off. Unlike other countries, Chinese workers receive little paid time off. Conley used a graph to illustrate the number of paid vacation days and holidays; China is on the bottom with no paid vacation days and only 12 paid public holidays. (p.387) Penalties or disciplinary actions described as “punishment” by Wong for not meeting quotas, inferior quality, or breaking rules, were harsh and in his opinion necessary. (Redmon, 2010)

• The enormous surplus of labor in China imperils workers worldwide as international competition puts incessant downward pressure on wages and working conditions, leading the apparel and textile industries to favor the cheapest and most Draconian producers.

While Industrialization led to a dramatic increase in the production of goods, created jobs, and generated a demand for natural resources, it brought about over-crowded cities, dangerous living conditions, and the unfair treatment of workers. Beginning in around 1760, Europe went through a massive development of industry, that started with the introduction of new technology to the production of goods. Seeking work, the masses began to gravitate towards towns and cities, leading to rapid urbanization, and an available workforce. There were many positive affects to the Industrial Revolution. Greater production of goods, employment, and the necessity of natural resources were all favorable consequences of Industrialization.

Dexter Roberts and Pete Engardio in “Secrets, Lies, and Sweatshops,” writes about the various struggles that the United States has with production factories overseas. Wal-Mart claims they have rules for the sweatshops to follow but China still violates the labor laws by hiring consultants to give tips to sneak around auditors. The American people enjoy their everyday items at a low price, which Wal-Mart demands to the sweatshops. The sweatshops are struggling to provide these low price items to Wal-Mart and keep their working conditions humane. Roberts and Engardio explain in the article how companies that have overseas production are attempting to provide the managers and employees with skills to make the overtime required more effective.

The era of 1865 to 1900 is known as the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age witnessed the industrialization in the United States of America. The Second Industrial Revolution was also what it was known as due to many technological advances. Industrialization substantially affected farmers and industrial workers, along with other parts of American society. Consequently, they also responded to this newly emerged situation.

The Industrial Revolution not only changed business and economics, but urban lifestyle. The changes occurring were mostly negative, however, and constructed a need for reform. These were times where the product and consumer demand drove business, not socialist working reforms This is all best seen in Manchester where worker’s living conditions deteriorated to improve the business until they were initially met with meager reform, all while the city kept expanding to accomodate. The worker’s living conditions largely deteriorated as Manchester was forced to expand.

During the late 19th and all of the 20th century many events took place affecting the current situation our world is facing today.  The broad term, industrialization, refers to the development of goods produced by machinery and the discovery of new energy resources.  Industrialization had many positive and negative effects on the citizens of the world during these two centuries.  The events under industrialization could be said to have fallen victim to the “snowball effect” and been a cause of the situation that our world is facing today.

The age of industrialization brought many changes to American society. Industrialization had a huge impact in the development of the nineteenth century. Industrialization was important because it led to new technologies and inventions that tremendously improved every day life. The technical innovations and the inventions of railroads brought people into the cities. Due to this, industries grew and more jobs were available. The need for workers put women and children into the workforce, providing cheap labor, and resulting in poor working conditions. The texts “Modern America is Born” by Milton Meltzer, “Robber Barons and Rebels” by Howard Zinn, and “Hostile Employers See Yourselves as Others Know You” by Samuel Gompers, talks about poor working conditions that happened during industrialization.

Sweatshops have always been a problem in the Unites States, especially during the past century. Unfair working conditions and pay prompted the formation of the Garment Worker

The Industrial Revolution could possibly be the most important event in the history of our world. Before it, people worked mostly on farms or sold things through the market that were hand crafted. This revolution brought about great change in the ways that we produce goods and the economies of the world. While some might argue that Industrialization had primarily negative consequences for society because of the rough working and living conditions, it was actually a positive thing for society. Industrialization’s positive effects were an increased standard of living, better means of travel, and more developed countries with better economies.

Imagine only seeing your family for one day once a year. Having to compete for a ticket home with millions of other workers in order to see your family that you haven’t seen in a year. This is the life of 130 million migrant workers in china. These workers make most of the things we own. Most of us don’t think about the people who make our clothes, our phones, our computers; items that we use everyday. Our way of life revolves on mass consumerism, where we value the article more than the person or persons who made it. Mass media and multi million dollar industries keep the conditions on how these people work as a total mystery. Some brands have been exposed for sweatshop and

Although this sometimes isn’t the factories fault because most of the workers are uninsured so they are denied medical and social services (“China: Beijing’s Migrant 1”). Most of the factories do try to pay their workers by hour at about twenty cents per hour, but some only pay them once a year (Goldman 1). This however is breaking the rule of Labor Law fifty in China, which states that workers must be paid on a monthly basis. The average wage per month is only about sixty-five dollars which isn’t a sufficient amount of money to support an average family (“China: Beijing’s Migrant 1”). These people try to work overtime to earn more money, but often times they are forced to do this regardless (Goldman 2). Chinese workers often work in fear, because they have to ask permission to leave even after their shifts are done and to even go to the bathroom (Goldman 1). The Chinese workforce is starting to realize these problems and they won’t stand for it.