Effects of the
Industrial Revolution
Negative Effects of Industrial Revolution The cottage industry
replaced by factory system Factory conditions were harsh—men
competed against women & children Slave trade competed against free
workers; Eli Whitney’s cotton gin increased demand for cotton, slave labor
Negative Effects of Industrial Revolution
Owners had complete control over workers
Women, children provided cheap labor
Children were assets on farm, liability in cities
Health and Living Conditions Lower-class workers lived in
Tenement homesTenement homes near the factory; many families lived on 1 floor or same apartment
Areas around tenements were known as slumsslums because of high crime, dirty streets, poor workers
Health and Living Conditions Company townsCompany towns—company owner
would build apartment, own grocery, own schools, everything—workers got paid by owners, but had to buy all necessities in the owner’s stores
Health and Living Conditions By 1850, working conditions were so
bad that an uprising became possible Led to improvements in cities
–Public Health Act 1875Public Health Act 1875 forced towns to pave, light, and clean roads; appoint Medical Officer of Health
–Problems with sewage, water supply, disease, food, housing were examined
Health and Living Conditions
Urban conditions improved dramatically: –Filters used to purify water–Sewers, public baths built–Sale of harmful food prohibited–Soup kitchens set up to feed
unemployed workers–Established police force
to make slums safer
Medical Improvements Edward Jenner—
created first vaccine Louis Pasteur— discovered
bacteria & proved that they caused diseases
Marie and Pierre Curie—discovered radium and proved it emits energy. Used to develop x-rays
Child Labor 1832—committee set up to investigate
child labor in factories; Shocking results 1833—limited 9 hour workday for ages
9-13; 12 hour workday for ages 13-18 1842—kids under 10 years cannot work
in underground mines Later acts limited working hours for
women and children, made school mandatory, & forced owners to improve safety on machines
Unions As urbanization increased (moving to
cities), people discussed & identified similar problems
1700s—unionsunions (clubs with members from same profession) were first formed for several reasons:
–Get better pay
–Work shorter hours
–Better & safer working conditions
Growth of Democracy Labor unionsLabor unions began to grow & gain
power; By 1770s, nearly every trade had union & won better conditions–1871—290,000 workers in unions–1914—4,000,000 workers in unions
In 1884, Fabian SocietyFabian Society formed—promoted good working conditions for workers through education & new laws
Unions 1870s—workers won right to
strike (protest & not work) without being blamed for financial losses to company
Small unions joined together to form large unions; Eventually included all workers, not just skilled craftsmen
Class Struggles Inequalities of capitalism led to
other ideas about economy; SocialismSocialism—government controls businesses; no wealthy or poor classes in society
Robert Owen—set up “utopian” socialist community based on cooperation
Class Struggles Karl Marx outraged by
inequalities of wealth & poor treatment of workers
Wrote Communist ManifestoCommunist Manifesto—workers will rise up against owners & wealthy; Set up communismcommunism—economic system in which everyone is treated equally, all wealth shared, no need for any government