Rise of Factories and Factory Workers

Life Before Factories• Cottage Industries – These were in home production companies that

manufactured products to be sold by merchants, everything is hand made.• Problems:

1. Disasters would destroy the entire family business2. Learned skills were involved – slowed production3. Only adults could run production – adults die, family loses business because

children cannot work

Factories• Factory – This was a large place where many workers who left

home gathered to do labor using machines and making machine made goods.

• Factory System – 3 Levels of Participation:Level 1 – Wealthy business people – invest in and own factoriesLevel 2 – Supervisors – mid-level employees – oversee day-to-day

operations of factory.Level 3 – Low-level employees – workers who run the machines

Characteristics of Factories• Tasks were easily learned – required less skilled labor• Child labor was prevalent – did the most dangerous jobs• Men were primarily employed• Work was dangerous – working conditions were bad in the

factories• Many workers would get hurt on the job• Workers worked long hours with no breaks• Pay was poor for workers – could barely afford to feed

themselves and families• Factories were loud, with no ventilation, and poor sanitation

Life in Factory Towns• Characteristics of Factory Towns:

1. Company housing – poorly built apartment buildings2. Pollution in the air and on the ground3. Factories were the center of the town4. Cities were dirty with human waste – no sewage systems5. Lack of emergency personnel – police, fire, medical services6. Crime rates were high7. Health of citizens was poor – malnutrition, diseases8. Death rates were high for children – 60% died before age 5.

Read the Following Excerpts/Look at the Following Images:

• https://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/ind_rev/images/indust.html.htm

• http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRages.htm

• http://www.victorianweb.org/history/chadwick2.html

• http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRdeformities.htm

• http://www.historyhome.co.uk/peel/factmine/southey.htm

Today’s Task• As a team you are going to pretend that you have been sent to

the factory city in your area to work and earn money. Your family has lost its home business because of the new textile mill in the city close to you. How does moving to the city make you feel? What is your life like in the town? Where do you live? What type of work are you doing in the textile factory? What are the working conditions like? How much money are you making? Explain to them what you get to eat and how much you get to eat. Close the letter to your parents.

Assignment Details• BE SURE TO USE EXAMPLES FROM THE PRIMARY SOURCES

INCLUDED IN THIS! YOU SHOULD BE VERY DETAILED AND NOT JUST REPEAT THE NOTES THAT I GAVE YOU!!!

• POINTS POSSIBLE – 40 POINTS

• IF I SEE PEOPLE NOT WORKING WITH TEAM THEN YOU WILL GET A 0 ON ASSIGNMENT, CALL HOME, AND SENT TO OFFICE – I WILL NOT ACCEPT YOU NOT DOING YOUR PART!!!!!