1. Percentage of Population Working Agricultural Jobs 1820-1910
Friday Warm-Up
Answer the following questions using the chart in complete sentences...
In Great Britain, what percentage of population worked in agriculture in 1820?
Which country had the largest percentage of workers in agriculture in 1910?
Why has the percentage dropped in all four countries between 1820 and 1910?
Percentage of Population Working Agricultural Jobs

2. English Factory System
First adopted in England in the 1750s, as a method for manufacturing
Involved mass producing goods by machines usually run by water or steam
Featured low and unskilled workers running machines, or moving materials
Lowered costs of goods
Power Looms in English Cotton Mill (circa 1830)

3. Factory Reform Legislation
Between 1800 and 1850, Parliament passed a series of laws to regulate factory work.
Many of these laws focused on protecting children working in factories, and set limits on the amount of hours that children could work in factories.
The Factory Act of 1850, for example, limited the weekly hours that children could work to 60 and daily hours to 10.5.
Political Cartoon: “English Factory Slaves.” Robert Cruikshank

4. Factory Reform Legislation
Throughout this period, several commissions investigated working conditions in factories.
Politicians, academics, doctors, and other public figures wrote books, pamphlets, speeches, and newspaper articles in support of or against regulating the country’s growing factory system.

5. Central Historical Question
Were factories bad for the health of their workers?
(Discuss with your table partner and be ready to share your opinions)

6. Factory Life Graffiti Write
We are going to use historical documents to give us a better understanding of the conditions of those working in factories
You will then be doing a graffiti write to give an overall picture of factory life

7. Document Activity
At your table, each seat is going to be assigned a number 1-4
Refer to the illustration below to see what your seat number is 2 3 1 4

8. Graffiti Write-Step 1
Each person at your table will be assigned a document to read and analyze
Seat 1= Document A
Seat 2= Document B
Seat 3= Document C
Seat 4= Document D

9. Graffiti Write-Step 2 READ/EXPLORE your document
CHOOSE or CREATE one phrase or statement that stands out to you as either an “a-ha” statement, a statement with which you strongly agree, or a statement that provides you with a new perspective
WRITE your phrase or statement on your paper at your table

10. Graffiti Write-Step 3
DISCUSS your document with your table. Each person will be given ONE minute to discuss their document and individual statement
Everyone else will LISTEN and use the paper at your table to free write individual thoughts about each document. Free write important information that you think gives you a better understanding of factory life

11. Graffiti Write-Step 4
Groups will ANALYZE and DISCUSS the individual statements on the paper at your table
As a group, CIRCLE the SEVEN(7) most important words on your poster related to life in the factories.

12. Graffiti Write-Step 5
USE the five words circled to create a one to two sentence summary about life in the factories. You MUST use all five words in your summary statement. You may ADD words to complete your thought, but your original FIVE words
Write your summary on a piece of copy paper and attach it the larger paper on your table.

13. Strike Signs Working with your table group…
Use the information you have learned about factory life to create a strike sign
Your sign must include…
An image
Three demands you want met by your employer

14. Exit Ticket #1
Which of the following is NOT one of the conditions experienced in the factories?
Long hours
Harsh treatment
Spread of disease
Clean working areas

15. Exit Ticket #2
One of the negative effects of the Industrial Revolution are the working conditions of the factories. Which of the following are changes made after investigation of these conditions?
Less working hours for children
More working hours for children
No restrictions on how many days people could work
None of the Above