Working Conditions In The Factories And Mines example essay topic

Documents that i will use to evaluate the positive and negative effects of the Industrial Revolution. Document #1: Excerpt from William Coopers testimony before the Sadler committee in 1832. Document #2: Excerpt from the testimony of Joseph Hebergam to the Sadler Committee. Document #3: Excerpt from "The Philosophy of Manufactures" by Andrew Ure, 1835. Document #5: Excerpt from a pamphlet published in 1797 by the Society for Bettering the Condition and Increasing the Comforts for the Poor.

Document #8: Table showing British iron production (1740-1900) The Industrial Revolution brought great changes to people's lives. During this period, millions of people moves into the cities and found work in the new factories. These factories produced large quantities of goods and services. However, many people struggled to survive in overcrowded living conditions. In the factories and mines, adult laborers and children often worked long hours and were frequently injured or hurt.

In the cities, the new factories had an increasing demand for workers. This led to large masses of people to migrate from the farms to the cities. As a result, factories and cities grew at the same time. Factory owners became wealthy, and many families became part of a new middle- class. Middle- class families lived in good neighborhoods.

The factories also hired children some of whom were clothed and educated by their work place. For example in one village the children employed in the mills had a healthy appearance and were well taken care of. In this village very few children died working in the mills. "Out of nearly 3,000 children employed in the mills from 1785 to 1797, only fourteen died" (Document 5). for some people, the Industrial Revolution was beneficial because it allowed them to move into the new middle- class and provided a better standard of living for their family. The positive effects of the Industrial Revolution were enjoyed by a small group of people, most of whom did not have to work in the factories, mills or mines. The Industrial Revolution more efficient, in the table titled "British Iron Production 1740-1900", British Iron Production increased from 17,300 tons to 9,000,000 tons (Document 8). although the Industrial Revolution allowed the mass production of goods for people o use, I believe that the benefits could not erase the poverty brought on by rapid urbanization, and overcrowding.

The Industrial Revolution also effected people's lives in a negative way. The factories often used children that were as young as ten years old. In an excerpt from William Cooper's testimony before the Sadler Committee in 1832. Cooper says that he started working in the mills at age ten. He also said that he worked sixteen hours a day and had one rest period at noon. (Document 1). the working conditions in the factories and mines were very poor.

Children who worked in coal mines breathed coal dust that destroyed their lungs. Adult workers also got sick and were severely injured. In an excerpt from the testimony of Joseph Hebergam to the Sadler Committee, he says the following"I have damaged lungs, my leg muscles do not function properly, and will not support the weight of my bones". The testimony also says that Mr. Hebergam will die within a year. Mr. Hebergam was also told by his doctor that his injuries were caused by the dust in the factories and from overwork. (Document 5). it is common for several members of one family to be injured in the factories and mills.

For example Mr. Hebergam stated in his testimony that a boy was severely injured by a machine and had his thigh bones broken and flesh ripped. His sister had both her arms broken trying to save him. The boy later died and the girl was not expected to live. (Document 2). Many families were destroyed by the negative effects of the Industrial Revolution. Parents lost children, and children lost parents through injuries and deaths in the factories.

The factory workers were treated like property and not like human beings. They were considered replaceable. I believe that the poor and children did not benefit from the Industrial Revolution.