The Industrial Revolution and Factory Life

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  • The Industrial Revolution and Factory Life
    • Rapid Change
      • The Industrial Revolution refers to the period from the mid-18th to the late 19th century in Britain
      • This period saw huge change with mass migration to the towns and cities. In 1750 around 20% of the population lives in towns and cities, by 1900 it was 75%.
      • Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most people worked on the land. This period of change would see a rise in factory workers.
      • The population was rising due to improvements in diets and hygiene. This meant the demand for goods also rose.
      • The traditional method of production was no longer effective to keep up with demand.
      • Coal replaced wood as the leading fuel supply. Coal provided 3X more energy. Coal was also easier to transport as many mines were near the sea.
      • Due to advances in science and technology, machines were made for factories.
      • Development of the railway and canals further helped to boost industry.
    • Factories
      • At the start of the period, factories were widely powered by water wheels.
      • Manchester was a key industrial city as fast running rivers helped power industry
      • The textile industry was the first to use new technology following the invention of the water frame for spinning thread in 1769 by Sir Richard Arkwright.
      • The development of the steam engine meant industry was no longer reliant on water power which allowed the industrial revolution to spread.
    • Factory Life
      • It is thought that an increase in machines would reduce the number of workers needed but for majority of the period this was untrue.
      • Between 1838 and 1885 the number of workers in the cotton industry doubled to 500,000.
      • Life in the factories was often very hard. Many workers worked for 14 hours a day with machines that lacked safety guards which meant injuries were very common.
      • The development of electricity meant workers were no longer limited to only working in daylight hours.
      • One common injury was scalping which occurred when the top of the scalp was removed when hair got caught in the machines.
      • Children as young as 4 worked in the factories, crawling under the machines. Children were often punished for not working hard enough.
    • Josiah Wedgwood
      • Some business owners realised that if they treated their staff well, their productivity would increase.
      • Josiah Wedgwood was a potter from Staffordshire and he developed a system for workers similar to modern day sick pay.
      • He created schools for his workers' children and hospitals to treat the sick.
      • He built a village for his workers to live in that was well maintained.
      • In return Wedgwood expected hard work.
    • Riots
      • New machinery in the farming industry put many jobs at risk. Soldiers returning from war in 1815 could not find work.
      • The Luddites (named after Ned Ludd) smashed factory machines from 1811-1813.
      • The Swing Riots in 1830 involved farm labourers attacking farm houses and machinery, demanding better wages and more jobs. They particularly hated the new threshing machine which did the work of many men.
      • The Rebecca Riots started in the late 1830s, they were protesting against high tolls (charges for using the new roads).
      • The government were very harsh with those involved in the riots and many were executed or deported.

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