Chapter 22 Part 4 The Industrial Revolution

Changes in working conditions Factory work meant more discipline and less personal freedom Factory work meant more discipline and less personal freedom Work became impersonal Work became impersonal The factory environment was so different than what cottagers were used to that they were reluctant to work in factories even for better wages The factory environment was so different than what cottagers were used to that they were reluctant to work in factories even for better wages

Working Conditions Early factories resembled English poorhouses where destitute people went to live on welfare Early factories resembled English poorhouses where destitute people went to live on welfare Some poorhouses really were industrial prisons Some poorhouses really were industrial prisons

Child Labor Increased More agricultural workers became weavers and were paid fairly well so were unwilling to move to factories More agricultural workers became weavers and were paid fairly well so were unwilling to move to factories Factory owners turned to child labor Factory owners turned to child labor Abandoned children became a main source of labor from local parishes and orphanages Abandoned children became a main source of labor from local parishes and orphanages

Child Labor Factory owners treated children like slaves Factory owners treated children like slaves Hours were long; conditions were appalling Hours were long; conditions were appalling Factories, mines, chimney sweeps, market girls, shoemakers, etc. Factories, mines, chimney sweeps, market girls, shoemakers, etc. BUT this was much the same as child labor in cottage industries BUT this was much the same as child labor in cottage industries

Child Labor Did child labor in factories only APPEAR to be worse? Did child labor in factories only APPEAR to be worse? As the Industrial Revolution continued, child labor declined As the Industrial Revolution continued, child labor declined BUT at first, families worked in factories in units BUT at first, families worked in factories in units Parents were unwilling to be separated from their children in factories and mines Parents were unwilling to be separated from their children in factories and mines Working together made the work more tolerable Working together made the work more tolerable

In Cotton Mills Children worked for mothers or fathers Children worked for mothers or fathers Collected waste and pieced together broken thread Collected waste and pieced together broken thread In mines children sorted coal and picked up stray bits that fell from the corvees (carts) pushed by their mothers while fathers mined the seams In mines children sorted coal and picked up stray bits that fell from the corvees (carts) pushed by their mothers while fathers mined the seams Parents DID protest inhumane treatment Parents DID protest inhumane treatment

See Listening to the Past

Parliament tried to limit Child Labor The Saddler Commission: investigated working conditions and helped to initiate legislation to improve conditions in factories The Saddler Commission: investigated working conditions and helped to initiate legislation to improve conditions in factories

The Factory Act 1833 Limited the workday for children 9-13 to 8 hours a day Limited the workday for children 9-13 to 8 hours a day Limited ages to 12 hours a day Limited ages to 12 hours a day Prohibited hiring children under age 9 Prohibited hiring children under age 9 Were to attend elementary schools that factory owners were required to establish Were to attend elementary schools that factory owners were required to establish

Employment of Children declined rapidly BUT the Factory Act of 1833 helped to destroy the family as a working unit BUT the Factory Act of 1833 helped to destroy the family as a working unit

The Mines Act of 1842 Prohibited boys and girls under age 10 from working underground Prohibited boys and girls under age 10 from working underground

Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society Urbanization: was the most important sociological effect Urbanization: was the most important sociological effect Was the largest population transfer in human history Was the largest population transfer in human history Birth of factory towns: cities grew into large industrial centers…like Manchester Birth of factory towns: cities grew into large industrial centers…like Manchester

Before the Industrial Revolution Most people lived in the South of England Most people lived in the South of England BUT coal and iron were located in the Midlands and in the North BUT coal and iron were located in the Midlands and in the North In 1785 only 3 cities had more than 50,000 people in England and Scotland In 1785 only 3 cities had more than 50,000 people in England and Scotland By 1820, 31 cities with 50,000 or more By 1820, 31 cities with 50,000 or more

The role of the city had changed From governmental and cultural centers From governmental and cultural centers To industrial centers To industrial centers Living conditions SEEMED worse (due to overcrowding) in the cities but did not differ much from those living on farms Living conditions SEEMED worse (due to overcrowding) in the cities but did not differ much from those living on farms

Reformers tried to improve life in cities The big issues of the 19 th century: The big issues of the 19 th century: working class injustices working class injustices gender exploitation gender exploitation standard-of-living issues standard-of-living issues

The family structure and gender roles within the family changed Families were no longer a unit of production and consumption Families were no longer a unit of production and consumption Families were less closely bound together Families were less closely bound together Productive work was taken out of the home Productive work was taken out of the home

New roles As wages rose for skilled adult males women and children were separated from the workplace As wages rose for skilled adult males women and children were separated from the workplace Gender-determined roles at home and a new “domestic” life slowly emerged Gender-determined roles at home and a new “domestic” life slowly emerged Married women stayed at home Married women stayed at home Husband was the wage earner Husband was the wage earner

Women Were expected to create a nurturing environment for family members who returned from work Were expected to create a nurturing environment for family members who returned from work Married women DID work outside the home IF family required it: illness, death of a spouse Married women DID work outside the home IF family required it: illness, death of a spouse Single women and widows had much work available BUT few skills required and very low wages Single women and widows had much work available BUT few skills required and very low wages No way to protect themselves from exploitation No way to protect themselves from exploitation

The Irish Increased numbers to Great Britain Increased numbers to Great Britain Became urban workers Became urban workers Many Irish were forced out of Ireland…poor economic conditions, population growth and the Potato Famine Many Irish were forced out of Ireland…poor economic conditions, population growth and the Potato Famine

The Irish Ireland had not industrialized Ireland had not industrialized The Industrial Revolution may have limited human catastrophe elsewhere…factory work provided better wages…people could buy food from elsewhere The Industrial Revolution may have limited human catastrophe elsewhere…factory work provided better wages…people could buy food from elsewhere Better transport could have brought food in Better transport could have brought food in

The Irish Overpopulation and rural poverty in Ireland Overpopulation and rural poverty in Ireland Most were Irish Catholic peasants and lived in abject poverty Most were Irish Catholic peasants and lived in abject poverty Rented land from a tiny minority of Anglicans Rented land from a tiny minority of Anglicans Most landowners were absentee Most landowners were absentee Had not improved agriculture (new crops, methods of the Agricultural Revolution NOT introduced) Had not improved agriculture (new crops, methods of the Agricultural Revolution NOT introduced)

The Potato Famine 1845 & 46…Crop failure 1845 & 46…Crop failure Again in 1848 & 1851 Again in 1848 & 1851 Also…fever epidemics! Also…fever epidemics! Higher food prices, tremendous suffering, social unrest Higher food prices, tremendous suffering, social unrest

Irish Potato Famine 1.5 million died or went unborn 1.5 million died or went unborn : 2 million left Ireland : 2 million left Ireland Most went to U.S. or Britain Most went to U.S. or Britain By 1911…population in Ireland 4.4 million By 1911…population in Ireland 4.4 million 1845 population in Ireland was 8 million 1845 population in Ireland was 8 million British government response was abysmal British government response was abysmal

It might have happened Anywhere that there was rapid population growth without industrialization Anywhere that there was rapid population growth without industrialization Central Russia, western Germany, Southern Italy were vulnerable Central Russia, western Germany, Southern Italy were vulnerable All relied on the potato, were overpopulated and poor All relied on the potato, were overpopulated and poor

The Dismal Science(Economics) Thomas Malthus Essay on the Principle of Population (1798): argued that the population would always grow faster than the food supply Thomas Malthus Essay on the Principle of Population (1798): argued that the population would always grow faster than the food supply The only way to ward off “positive checks” on population growth: war, famine, disease…to marry later in life. The only way to ward off “positive checks” on population growth: war, famine, disease…to marry later in life.

The Dismal Science David Ricardo ( ) The Iron Law of Wages: due to population growth, wages would always sink to subsistence level David Ricardo ( ) The Iron Law of Wages: due to population growth, wages would always sink to subsistence level Wages would be just high enough to keep workers from starving Wages would be just high enough to keep workers from starving

John Maynard Keynes During the Great Depression of the 1930’s During the Great Depression of the 1930’s “We are all dead in the long run….” “We are all dead in the long run….”

Friedrich List German journalist and thinker: Promoted economic nationalism (became increasingly popular in 1840’s) German journalist and thinker: Promoted economic nationalism (became increasingly popular in 1840’s) Government should protect industry with tariffs Government should protect industry with tariffs Government should subsidize RR’s, etc. Government should subsidize RR’s, etc. Wrote: National System of Political Economy (1841) Wrote: National System of Political Economy (1841) What would Adam Smith say? What would Adam Smith say?

Capitalists viewed the Industrial Revolution as a Positive Force in the long run In the end it did fulfill human wants and needs Industry provided the power to replace human labor Industry provided the power to replace human labor Wealth for all increased Wealth for all increased Huge amounts of food, clothing, energy became available to all Huge amounts of food, clothing, energy became available to all Luxuries became commonplace Luxuries became commonplace Life expectance increased Life expectance increased More leisure time available More leisure time available Prevented human catastrophe (like in Ireland) Prevented human catastrophe (like in Ireland)

Socialists and Communists Believed the Industrial Revolution to be the continued exploitation of the have-nots (proletariat) by the haves (Bourgeoisie) Believed the Industrial Revolution to be the continued exploitation of the have-nots (proletariat) by the haves (Bourgeoisie) Workers had to wait until the second ½ of the 19 th century to share in the wealth Workers had to wait until the second ½ of the 19 th century to share in the wealth Until then: low wages, poor conditions, abuse Until then: low wages, poor conditions, abuse