Effects of the Industrial Revolution With industrial development come drastic change in Social Economic Political …life Change is both positive and negative… S. Melvin

Positive Effects Employment of displaced farmers Increase in industrial productivity Increase in real wages Economic opportunity – Social mobility New inventions S. Melvin

Negative Effects Harsh living conditions Harsh and unfair working conditions Child labor Destruction of the environment Growing gap between rich and poor S. Melvin

Revolutionary Changes Any significant change that affects a great number of people creates new circumstances… until problems are identified and efforts are taken to solve them, some might suffer. What SIGNIFICANT efforts of resolution are being made? Women’s Movement Labor Rights

Labor Unions Organizations designed to represent workers interests Bargain with owner for rights, reforms (collective bargaining) Used strikes – refusing to work until management agreed to make change Grew in strength – organized political parties Government responded Gave pensions, reform laws, unemployment insurance, medical care

Improvements - Reforms Employers realized workers would be more productive if working conditions were safer and healthier Government stepped in… Cities began to improve… Water Sewage Homes streets

Government Intervention Factory Act of 1833 Limited working day for children 9-13 to eight hours 14-18 year olds, twelve hours Mines Act of 1842 No women or boys under 13 could work in the mines Ten Hours Act Limited working day for women and children under 18 By 1874, 10 hours to all workers