Working Conditions

Wage earners

• During the first century of the industrial rev a surplus of labor resulted in poor conditions for workers– 14 hour days, unsafe, low wages

• Poorhouses emerged• Workers as a whole did not share in general

wealth produced during the industrial rev

Union Movement

• Certain leaders began organizing groups of workers to resist exploitation of the workers by business owners

• Combination Acts– No labor unions– Fear of rebellion– Disregarded workers

Robert Owen

• In 1834, organized the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union

• Concerned for health, safety, and work hours of workers

Union

• Union action, combined with general prosperity and a developing social conscience, led to improved working conditions, better wages, and reduced hours

Factories

• Factory work meant more discipline and lost personal freedom

• Early factories resembled English poorhouses• Cottage workers were reluctant to work in

factories because it was so different

Child Labor

• Factory owners needed more workers, thus turning to child labor

• Abandoned children became a main source of labor from orphanages

• Work hours were very long and conditions terrible

• 12 hours days

Limit Child Labor

• Parliament sought to limit child labor• Saddler Commission– Investigated working conditions

• Factory Act of 1833– Children 9-13, 8 hours– Children 14-18, 12 hours– No children hired under age of 9

• Mines Act of 1842– Children under age of 10 could not work underground

Social Effects of Industrialization

• Urbanization• Working class injustices• Family structure and gender roles within

family were altered• Irish workers came to Great Britain• Overpopulation