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