THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

When: 1760 Where: Britain What: INVENTIONS (Spinning Jenny, steamengine, steamboats)

TRANSPORTATIONS Steamboats

CONSEQUENCES From country to towns From farms to factories

CHILDREN IN VICTORIAN BRITAIN

PEOPLE WHO NOTICED THE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS OF WORKING FAMILIES Charles Dickens

WORKOUSES Oliver Twist “Oliver was born in a workhouse…”

Political and social reformers Mine act 1842

Patience Kershaw 1842 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YRqLwtZ20Q&feature=related

Testimony of Patience Kershaw by The HE UNTHANKS Testimony of Patience Kershaw(Frank Higgins) It's good of you to ask me, Sir, to tell you how I spend the dayDown in a coal black tunnel, Sir, I hurry corves to earn my pay (spingo carretti per guadagnarmi un salario).The corves are full of coal, kind Sir, I push them with my hands and head.It isn't lady-like (da signore), but Sir, you've got to earn your daily bread.I push them with my hands and head, and so my hair gets worn away (cadono).You see this baldy patch (area senza capelli) I've got, it shames me (me ne vergogno tanto)like I just can't say.A lady's hands are lily white, but mine are full of cuts and segs.And since I'm pushing all the time, I've got great big muscles on my legs.I try to be respectable, but sir, the shame, God save my soul (che Dio salvi la mia anima).I work with naked, sweating men who curse and swear (dicono brutte parole e bestemmiano) and hew the coal (tagliano il carbone).The sights (lamenti), the sounds, the smells, kind Sir, not even God could know my pain.I say my prayers, but what's the use? Tomorrow will be just the same.Now, sometimes, Sir, I don't feel well, my stomach's sick (ho mal di stomaco), my head it aches (mi duole).I've got to hurry best I can. My knees feel weak, my back near breaksAnd then I'm slow, and then I'm scared these naked men will batter me.But they can’t be blamed, for if I'm slow, their families will starve (morire di fame), you see.All the lads, they laugh at me, and Sir, the mirror tells me why.Pale and dirty can't look nice. It doesn't matter how hard I try.Great big muscles on my legs, a baldy patch upon my head.A lady, Sir? Oh, no, not me! I should've been a boy instead.I praise (ammiro) your good intentions, Sir, I love your kind and gentle heartBut now it's 1842, and you and I, we're miles apart.A hundred years and more will pass before we're walking side by sideBut please accept my grateful thanks. God bless you Sir, at least you tried.

A day in the life of a Yorkshire girl This testimony was gathered by Lord Ashley when he conducted an investigation into the conditions of labour in mines. His report led to the mines Act of 1842 that prohibited the employment in the mines of children under thirteen. Patiente Kershaw, 17-May 15, 1842 “My father has been dead about a year ; my mother is living and has ten children, five lads (1) and five lasses (2); the oldest is about thirty, the youngest is four ; three lasses go to mill ; all the lads work at the pit (3) ; mother does nothing but look after home. I never went to day-school ; I go to Sunday-school but I cannot read or write ; I go to pit at five o’clock in the morning and come out at five in the evening ; I get my breakfast of porridge and milk first ; I take my dinner with me, a cake, and eat it as I go ; I do not stop or rest any time ;I get nothing else until I get home, and then I have potatoes and meat - not meat every day. At the pit, I hurry (4) the corves (5) about a mile under ground and back ; I wear a belt and chain to get the corves out ; the getters (6) that I work for are naked except their caps ; they pull off all their clothes ; sometimes they beat me, if I am not quick enough ; the boys take liberties with me … ; I am the only girl. I would rather work in mill (7) than in coal-pit.”

The commissioner commented: The girl is an ignorant, fithy, deplorable-looking object, one that the uncivilized natives of the prairies would be shocked to look upon. Parliamentary Papers, 1842