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Reform of the Industrial Revolution

Reform of the Industrial Revolution. World History - Libertyville HS. Birth of the Labor Movement. The Industrial Revolution concentrated labor into mills, factories & mines Individually, workers had little power to stand up to employers Together, they could influence employers; how?

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Reform of the Industrial Revolution

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  1. Reform of the Industrial Revolution World History - Libertyville HS

  2. Birth of the Labor Movement • The Industrial Revolution concentrated labor into mills, factories & mines • Individually, workers had little power to stand up to employers • Together, they could influence employers; how? • Withdraw their labor (strike) • Slow down their production

  3. Birth of the Labor Movement • Employers had a decision to make … • Give in to union demands for better wages, work conditions, etc • Suffer the cost of lost production • First workers to organize were skilled labor • Harder to replace • Formed trade unions, organized around a particular skill set

  4. Birth of the Labor Movement • Employer reaction to unions • Got laws passed to make unions illegal • Hired security forces to fight against unions • Fired union organizers • By late 1800s, unskilled labor organized, too • Painful process: many strikes, violence • Socialist politicians drew much of their support from union workers

  5. Working Conditions • Factory work day went from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM • Break at 7:30 AM for breakfast • Break at noon, for lunch • Eat dinner at home • Factories • Few / no windows • Low light led to accidents • Little to no ventilation • No heat during the winter

  6. Working Conditions • No safety devices, on machines • Arms, hands crushed • If injured, worker fired • Textile (and mine) workers developed lung conditions • Steel workers risked injury / death • Cave-ins buried miners alive

  7. Children as young as 6 years worked in factories 14-16 hour workdays Beatings were frequent Pay was sparse Child laborers were actually preferred (why?) Result of unregulated industry Working Conditions

  8. Child Labor Reform • Factory Act of 1833 • Illegal to hire children under age of 9 • Children from 9-12 could not work more than 8 hours / day • Children from 13-17 could not work more than 12 hours / day

  9. Child Labor Reform • Mines Act of 1842 • Prevented women, children from working underground • Ten Hours Act of 1847 • Women, children working in factories limited to 10 hours / day

  10. Living Conditions in the 1800s • Poorest lived in oldest, most central part of city • Lived in tenements (apartment buildings) • Few windows, poor ventilation • No indoor plumbing / toilet • Extended family lived in the same space • Disease was common (overcrowding) • Infant mortality rate (50%) • No sewers = garbage in the street

  11. Living Conditions in the 1800s • Middle class lived on outer edge of city • Row house or apartment building • Homes often had patch of lawn • Many middle class belonged to clubs / teams / organizations (sense of community)

  12. Living Conditions in the 1800s • Rich lived in the best areas • Millionaires built mansions with large lawns, maintained by staff of servants • Lived like royalty (artwork) • Threw lavish parties for their contacts, friends

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