Industrialism Case Study

How does Industrialization Affect Life? Urbanization – People move from the country to the cities Factories built in clusters near resources – Cities grow around them because workers need a place to live.

Living Conditions Rapid building of cities – No development plans – No sanitary codes – No building codes – Bad housing, education, and little police protection – Unpaved streets – No drains – No garbage collection People get sick, lots of epidemics (like cholera) – Life span 17 years for people in cities, 38 in rural areas nearby

Working Conditions 14 hr work day, 6 days a week Same work every single day Very dangerous! Coal dust makes life of miners 10 years shorter than that of other workers Women and children cheapest forms of labor (cheapest workers, you can pay them less)

Middle Class Social class made up of skilled workers, professionals, business people, and wealthy farmers. Some more wealthy than aristocrats (nobles) Looked down upon because they didn’t inherit wealth they made it in the “vulgar” business world.

Middle Class Larger middle class emerges – Not rich or poor – Comfortable standard of living

Working Class See little improvement in working and living conditions from Machines replace them in the work place – Some even smash the machines in frustration They’re called luddites after Ned Ludd.

Positives of the Industrial Revolution Healthier diets Better housing Cheaper, mass-produced clothing Expanded educational opportunities Middle and upper classes – Immediate improvements – Workers takes longer, eventually get higher wages, shorter hours and better working conditions (because of Unions)

Long Term Effects Consumer goods – Cheaper goods affordable to many rather than a few Working conditions improved Profits = gov’t money from taxes = better standards of living

Problems Child Labor – Children as young as 6 worked 6 days a week from 6AM to 7 or 8 at night. – Only one half and hour break for lunch and one hour for dinner – Dangerous machinery (lots of injuries) – Fluff and dust in the air made them cough and get sick.

Problems Factory Act passed in 1819 – Restricts working age and hours – Young children still work in factories… Pollution – From coal burning – Dyes in rivers – Wastes (fecal matter) in rivers