Hardships of Early Industrial Life D B Setting

Hardships of Early Industrial Life D. B.

Setting the Scene The Industrial Revolution brought great riches to most of the entrepreneurs who helped set it in motion. For the millions of workers who worked in the new factories, however, the industrial age brought poverty and harsh living conditions. In time reforms would alleviate many of the worst abuses of the time and people at all levels of society would benefit from industrialization.

The New Industrial City The Industrial Revolution brought rapid urbanization The movement of people to cities Some factors that caused people to move to cities were: Changes in farming Soaring population growth Increasing demand for workers Cities would grow around the factories that entrepreneurs built in small towns. The British town of Manchester contained about 17, 000 people in the 1750 s. By 1780 over 40, 000 people lived there and by 1801 over 80, 000 people lived there. The wealthy lived in pleasant neighborhoods while the poor struggled to survive in slums.

The New Industrial City The poor would pack into tiny rooms in tenements. Multistory buildings divided into crowded apartments No running water No sewage or sanitation system Wastes and garbage rotted in the streets Cholera and other diseases spread rapidly. In time reformers pushed for laws to improve conditions in city slums.

Rigid Discipline In rural villages, people worked hard, but their work varied according to the season. Working hours were long. Shifts lasted from 12 to 16 hours Machines had no safety devices. Many workers would lose fingers, limbs, and sometimes their lives. Coal dust also destroyed the lungs of miners If workers were sick or injured, they lost their jobs

Women Workers Employers preferred to hire women rather then men Thought women could adapt more easily to machines and were easier to manage Most important, they could pay women workers less than men. Factory work was hard for women Gone from home 12+ hours a day Then go home and clothe their family, clean, and cook.

Child Labor Factories and mines also hired many boys and girls. Mostly nimble-fingered and quick-moving children were hired for work in the textile mills. Others crawled through narrow mine shafts pushing coal carts. Parents accepted the idea of child labor. Also the wages of the children were needed to keep the family alive.

Child Labor (Cont. ) Employers often hired orphans, making deals with officials who were glad to have the children taken off their hands. Children caught not working were beaten. Some factories did provide basic education and a decent life for child workers. But in most factories children, just like their parents, were slaves to the machines.

Protests As the Industrial revolution started weavers and skilled artisans despised the “laborsaving” machines. Some smashed machines and burned factories. In a protest in 1819, soldiers charged the crowd killing a dozen and injuring hundreds. Unions were not allowed and strikes were outlawed.

Spread of Methodism In the mid-1700 s, John Wesley had founded the Methodist Church. He stressed the need for a personal sense of faith. Urged Christians to improve their lot by adopting sober, moral ways. Methodist meetings featured: Hymns Sermons promising forgiveness of sins and a better life to come. Methodist preachers took this message of salvation to the slums. Set up Sunday schools

The New Middle Class Consisted of merchants who invested their money in factories, inventors, or skilled artisans. Middle-class families lived in solid, well-furnished homes. The family would hire a maid-servant. The men of the middle class gained influence in Parliament while the women would draw, play the piano, or embroider.

Benefits and Problems Reformers pressed for laws to improve working conditions. Workers’ organizations called labor unions won the right to bargain with employers for better wages, hours, and working conditions. Eventually working class men gained the right to vote. Despite the low pay, unemployment, and dismal living conditions, the industrial age was beneficial. New factories opened Jobs created Wages rose Cost of railroad travel fell Opportunities increased The Bad The Good

John Wesley Review Founder of Methodism Ned Ludd Founder and leader of the Luddites Urbanization the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger What was life like for women in the Industrial Revolution? Women were paid less than men and still had to cook and clean. Why did factory owners like to hire women? Multistory buildings divided Tenements into crowded apartments They could be paid less.

Review (Cont. ) What was life like for miners during the I. R. ? Very harsh working conditions that could end in death. What class of people benefited the most from the I. R. ? The new middle class What were some reasons children were forced to work during the industrial revolution? Their family needed the money or they were orphans.