1. Industrial Revolution: Reforms

2. Labor Unions
By the 1800’s, working people became more active in politics
Workers joined voluntary labor associations called unions to press for reforms

3. Unions: Labor Unions Negotiated between workers and their employers
Bargained for better working conditions and higher pay
If demands were refused, union members could strike

4. Labor Unions Skilled workers led the way to forming unions
Why might this be?
Special skills gave them extra bargaining power as they were harder to replace.
Combination Acts of 1799 and (Great Britain): outlawed unions and strikes
Factory workers ignored threats of jail or job loss and joined unions anyways

5. Labor Unions 1824-Parliament repealed the Combination Acts
By 1825 unions were tolerated
By 1875, Right to strike and picket peacefully
Membership of about one million people.

6. Reforms
1830s – Parliament starts to investigate child labor issues in mines
The Factory Act of 1833
Illegal to hire children under the age of 9
Children 9-12 could not work more than 8 hours a day
Those could not work more than 12 hours a day

7. Reforms The Mines Act of 1842 Ten Hours Act of 1847
Prevented women and children from working underground
Ten Hours Act of 1847
limited women and children to working 10 hours a day in factories

8. Think, Pair, Share… What problems do we see with Child Labor?
What new laws would you propose to parliament?
What will the implications be?

9. Reforms The Mines Act of 1842 Ten Hours Act of 1847
Prevented women and children from working underground
Ten Hours Act of 1847
limited women and children to working 10 hours a day in factories

10. Other Reform Movements
Abolition of Slavery – Slavery existed in British colonies (but not Britain itself) – abolished in the empire in 1833
Some were morally opposed to slavery, others opposed it because they saw it as a threat to industry
Cheap labor over slave labor

11. Other Reform Movements
Women’s rights – often paid 1/3 of what men were paid
Inspired by abolitionists’ work against slavery, women realized they could gain rights as well by protesting and striking