Social Effects
“During the Industrial Revolution, the social structure of society changed dramatically. Before the Revolution most people lived in small villages, working either in agriculture or as skilled craftsmen. They lived and often worked as a family, doing everything by hand. In fact, three quarters of Britain's population lived in the countryside, and farming was the predominant occupation (Porter). With the advent of industrialization, however, everything changed. The new enclosure laws—which required that all grazing grounds be fenced in at the owner's expense—had left many poor farmers bankrupt and unemployed, and machines capable of huge outputs made small hand weavers redundant. As a result, there were many people who were forced to work at the new factories. This required them to move to towns and cities so that they could be close to their new jobs. It also meant that they made less money for working longer hours. Add to this the higher living expenses due to urbanization, and one can easily see that many families' resources would be extremely stretched.” (Industrial Revolution/impact)
Since there was less money coming in women and children had to work. Factory owners were happy to employ women and children for a number of reasons. First of all, they could be paid less, and children could be ruled over more easily than adults eceptly by beatings. Children also had smaller hands, which were needed to reach in parts of a machine. Thus, employers found that children were better and adapted to the new methods better than adults. Children were also sent to work in mines, being small enough to get more coal and ore from the deep and very often unsafe pits They could also be forced to work as long as eighteen hours each day. For these reasons, children as young as eight years old were sent to factories. (Industrial Revolution/Impact)
Effects on City Life:
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People lived in tenements, which were overcrowded apartments that lacked sanitation and sewer systems, so disease spread very rapidly.
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Polluted air and rivers
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Much crime due to lack of law enforcement
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Since there was less money coming in women and children had to work. Factory owners were happy to employ women and children for a number of reasons. First of all, they could be paid less, and children could be ruled over more easily than adults eceptly by beatings. Children also had smaller hands, which were needed to reach in parts of a machine. Thus, employers found that children were better and adapted to the new methods better than adults. Children were also sent to work in mines, being small enough to get more coal and ore from the deep and very often unsafe pits They could also be forced to work as long as eighteen hours each day. For these reasons, children as young as eight years old were sent to factories. (Industrial Revolution/Impact)
Conditions in Factories:
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Long Working hours - 12-16 hour days
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Entire families, including children worked in factories
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Machines lacked safety devices
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Women were paid less for equal work
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Low wages
Problems brought by Industrial Revolution:
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Ruined family life as women worked long days, then came home to feed their families
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Many people lost limbs or were injured by unsafe machinery
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Workers could easily lose there job because of amount of workers
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Terrible working and living conditons
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Infalation on food and equipment
Improvements on Life:
- People had dependable source of income
- Poverty had been slightly weakened as people could buy food
- Regultions and laws make to protect workers
- Sanitary contions improved
For more information : http://industrialrevolution.sea.ca/impact.html
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