Working Conditions in Factories and the Changing Roles of Men, Women, and Children in the Workforce The Industrial Revolution was one of the biggest revolutions in history. Before the revolution, most people lived in the countryside or in villages, where they primarily farmed or were craftsmen. Most families would make money through trading in markets, and would grow their own food. There was no machinery, and the people tended to use their hands, tools, and animals. But as the Industrial Revolution progressed, there were numerous drastic changes. Apart from the development of machinery, increase in efficiency, and rapid urbanization, many other things took place. Roles in families began altering, working conditions changed, and different types of settlements emerged.
In the time of the Agricultural Revolution, men were the primary wage earners, as they were the ones with the ability to spend long hours in the sun doing manual labor, or the ones who had extensive knowledge of a specific craft, like creating guns or making furniture. Women were usually housewives, and worked at home, spinning, weaving, and cooking. Children dealt with all the basic chores around the house, and took care of animals and crops. However, as factories began developing, a need for unskilled labor arose. Guns and furniture could now be made simply by the press of a
Child Labor
button, or the pull of a lever. Craftsmen and farmers with years of experience had difficulty coping with the changes, and couldn’t bear the thought of working for low wages. However, all factory owners wanted were people with brains and hands, and there were many others who could take the job. Children were easy to manipulate, easy to train, and didn’t argue or rebel against unfair conditions or low wages. They had small hands, and could reach inside machinery in the case of obstructions. Women were equally useful, and factory owners soon started hiring women and children over men. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, men lost the role of being the family’s primary wage earners, and soon became the ones doing household chores.
Hurriers
Mines were a slightly different story. Though women and children were still hired in mines, men were the primary workers in a mine. However, all the men could do was mine ores, as women and children did all the other tasks. They took on the roles of “hurriers”, quick workers who would transport the bags of coal, “trappers”, who would open and close small gates in mine tunnels, and did various other chores like hauling up men in baskets or cleaning up the settlements near the mines. Accidents occurred with unbelievable frequency, and workers often fell to their deaths when ropes frayed, or were killed in mine collapses and gas explosions. Skilled farmers and craftsmen soon formed a group known as the “Luddites”. Luddites, a group of frustrated, skilled workers soon began breaking into
Luddites
actories and breaking up machinery. They would send letters to factory owners, signed by “General Lud and his Army of Redressers”. Luddites mistrusted technology, and hated unskilled workers. Women and children returning from factories and mines would often be assaulted, and Luddites soon became a menace. The Frame-Breaking Act was soon passed, and committing these acts became punishable by death. More than 12,000 soldiers were sent in to enforce this act, but the attempt was useless. Food prices went up, workers found it increasingly difficult to feed their families, and more Luddite actions occurred. In the year of 1812, food riots took place in towns in March, and a mill owner and two workers were murdered in April.
Working conditions during the Industrial Revolution were absolutely terrible. In mines, children were hired at ages as young as 5, worked for numerous hours in the darkness, and constantly had rats and insects crawling all over them. Children were also beaten, and many were killed in underground collapses, rope breaks, and other accidents.
Factories in the 18th century were just as bad. Workers, usually women or children, were forced to work for 12-18 hours a day, generally with a one-hour break only, and were beaten if they protested. Children were often kidnapped or manipulated into working in factories, where they were beaten and whipped with straps to maintain work speed. Inspectors would often compare the productivity of the workers, and would beat and injure the slowest ones. Many children were dunked headfirst into water tanks for being drowsy, and women were often sexually harassed. The working conditions had deteriorating effects on the workers, and many were permanently disabled for life. Some went insane and many died from the stress or the beating. Encouraged by Michael Sadler, Parliament carried out surveys, and found out that most workers worked for more than twelve hours daily. Factories also had extremely strict regulations, and workers could not socialize, sing, or even bring in possessions like watches into the factories. Wages were often as low as a penny an hour, and doing something as small as coming in 2 minutes late would mean a massive deduction of your payment, like an entire halfpenny.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Many horrible accidents took place during the Industrial Revolution. Apart from the numerous instances of mangled bodies of children caught in machines, and workers found dead in mine collapses, there were some very big accidents as well. One of these was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, which took place in 1911. In 20 minutes, about 150 people were killed in a factory fire. Rubbish was piled high in offices, and the emergency exits were locked because “the workers stole materials”. The event was highly publicized, and there was massive public outrage. Strikes took place, and this event led to the increase of protests, labor unions, and better work conditions.
The Industrial Revolution also gave rise to “company towns”. Companies often faced a challenge with trying to find housing and shelter for their workers,
Company Towns
especially when the workers brought their family along. Often times, many companies had to set up factories/mines in the middle of nowhere, and had no place to keep their workers. As a result, companies began establishing “company towns”, large settlements of inexpensive houses where workers could reside. One of these was owned by Cambria Iron. A benefit of company towns was that the company earned money from both profit and the rent they received from their workers, and if a worker didn’t pay his rent, they could always cut his paycheck. Companies also earned a great deal of money from “company stores”, which were small general stores with overpriced materials. Company towns were usually very cheaply built, and often consisted of long building with sheets of wood for walls. These buildings were built close to factories or mines, and workers would sleep in the buildings, wake up, go to work, return, eat, and go back to sleep.
With all the horrible working conditions and cheap company towns, many protests and riots took place. Labor unions were formed. The first ever labor
Protests and Labor Unions
union was formed by Philadelphia tailors in 1869, and were called the “Knights of Labor”. They led the first nationwide strike in 1877, which consisted of more than 100,000 workers. Labor unions are groups of workers who try to improve working conditions, wages, and are against unfair work like overtime without compensation. They are known for protesting, rioting, and striking to achieve their objectives, and are great benefits to workers. Most employees try their best to join a labor union, as they provide them with support, and speak on their behalf. They also help them in the case of legal action, and provide them with financial aid or lawyers. The main goal of labor unions is to protect and further the rights and interests of their members. Labor unions work like democracies. Members vote for who gets elected to office and makes decisions for the union. Each member pays dues to keep the union functioning. Unions then help groups of workers bargain with their employers for better conditions, and hold protests or in other ways aid their members. Labor unions and their protests, such as the 1877 Knights of Labor strike, are one of the biggest factors that led to better laws for workers.
Laws made to protect children were passed in Parliament in London
As protests increased and public outrage was fuelled by events such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, Parliament was forced into making laws for better working conditions for workers. Many laws were passed, especially those which reduced working time and increased minimum wages. One of these was the 1847 Fielder’s Factory Act, which introduced a ten-hour day for women and under 18’s. Another one was the 1844 Graham’s Factory Act, which reduced the maximum working time for workers, and decreed that safety guards had to be fitted to all machines.
The Industrial Revolution brought about many changes in lifestyle. It drastically changed the roles of family members. It unfortunately led to a decrease in working conditions and led to the rise of company towns. However, it also created labor unions and many laws were made to protect workers during the Revolution. It was a very important part of our history, and has impacted our lifestyle today in many ways.
The Industrial Revolution was one of the biggest revolutions in history. Before the revolution, most people lived in the countryside or in villages, where they primarily farmed or were craftsmen. Most families would make money through trading in markets, and would grow their own food. There was no machinery, and the people tended to use their hands, tools, and animals. But as the Industrial Revolution progressed, there were numerous drastic changes. Apart from the development of machinery, increase in efficiency, and rapid urbanization, many other things took place. Roles in families began altering, working conditions changed, and different types of settlements emerged.
In the time of the Agricultural Revolution, men were the primary wage earners, as they were the ones with the ability to spend long hours in the sun doing manual labor, or the ones who had extensive knowledge of a specific craft, like creating guns or making furniture. Women were usually housewives, and worked at home, spinning, weaving, and cooking. Children dealt with all the basic chores around the house, and took care of animals and crops. However, as factories began developing, a need for unskilled labor arose. Guns and furniture could now be made simply by the press of a
button, or the pull of a lever. Craftsmen and farmers with years of experience had difficulty coping with the changes, and couldn’t bear the thought of working for low wages. However, all factory owners wanted were people with brains and hands, and there were many others who could take the job. Children were easy to manipulate, easy to train, and didn’t argue or rebel against unfair conditions or low wages. They had small hands, and could reach inside machinery in the case of obstructions. Women were equally useful, and factory owners soon started hiring women and children over men. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, men lost the role of being the family’s primary wage earners, and soon became the ones doing household chores.
Mines were a slightly different story. Though women and children were still hired in mines, men were the primary workers in a mine. However, all the men could do was mine ores, as women and children did all the other tasks. They took on the roles of “hurriers”, quick workers who would transport the bags of coal, “trappers”, who would open and close small gates in mine tunnels, and did various other chores like hauling up men in baskets or cleaning up the settlements near the mines. Accidents occurred with unbelievable frequency, and workers often fell to their deaths when ropes frayed, or were killed in mine collapses and gas explosions.
Skilled farmers and craftsmen soon formed a group known as the “Luddites”. Luddites, a group of frustrated, skilled workers soon began breaking into
actories and breaking up machinery. They would send letters to factory owners, signed by “General Lud and his Army of Redressers”. Luddites mistrusted technology, and hated unskilled workers. Women and children returning from factories and mines would often be assaulted, and Luddites soon became a menace. The Frame-Breaking Act was soon passed, and committing these acts became punishable by death. More than 12,000 soldiers were sent in to enforce this act, but the attempt was useless. Food prices went up, workers found it increasingly difficult to feed their families, and more Luddite actions occurred. In the year of 1812, food riots took place in towns in March, and a mill owner and two workers were murdered in April.
Working conditions during the Industrial Revolution were absolutely terrible. In mines, children were hired at ages as young as 5, worked for numerous hours in the darkness, and constantly had rats and insects crawling all over them. Children were also beaten, and many were killed in underground collapses, rope breaks, and other accidents.
Factories in the 18th century were just as bad. Workers, usually women or children, were forced to work for 12-18 hours a day, generally with a one-hour break only, and were beaten if they protested. Children were often kidnapped or manipulated into working in factories, where they were beaten and whipped with straps to maintain work speed. Inspectors would often compare the productivity of the workers, and would beat and injure the slowest ones. Many children were dunked headfirst into water tanks for being drowsy, and women were often sexually harassed. The working conditions had deteriorating effects on the workers, and many were permanently disabled for life. Some went insane and many died from the stress or the beating. Encouraged by Michael Sadler, Parliament carried out surveys, and found out that most workers worked for more than twelve hours daily. Factories also had extremely strict regulations, and workers could not socialize, sing, or even bring in possessions like watches into the factories. Wages were often as low as a penny an hour, and doing something as small as coming in 2 minutes late would mean a massive deduction of your payment, like an entire halfpenny.
The Industrial Revolution also gave rise to “company towns”. Companies often faced a challenge with trying to find housing and shelter for their workers,
With all the horrible working conditions and cheap company towns, many protests and riots took place. Labor unions were formed. The first ever labor
The Industrial Revolution brought about many changes in lifestyle. It drastically changed the roles of family members. It unfortunately led to a decrease in working conditions and led to the rise of company towns. However, it also created labor unions and many laws were made to protect workers during the Revolution. It was a very important part of our history, and has impacted our lifestyle today in many ways.