Industrial Revolution Flashcards
What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the environment?
- The smoke from coal fires caused a lot of heavy pollution.
- Cities became very crowded and dirty.
- Rich people fled the city to get fresh air.
What was the impact of the Industrial revolution on government?
- The government was mainly controlled by land owners and business owners because they were the only ones who could vote.
- As a result, the government’s economic policy promoted a market that was as free as possible from government interference, which was good for business owners.
- This hands-off economic policy was known as ‘laissez-faire’, which is French for ‘leave alone’.
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What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution on workers?
- The government’s ‘laissez-faire’ hands-off economic policy wasn’t always good for workers.
- The majority of people who worked in factories endured long, hard hours in unsafe conditions for very little pay.
- Workers had very long shifts (12-16 hours)
- It was easy for business owners to fire workers and hire someone cheaper instead.
- Work was particularly hard for coal miners, who only saw the sun once a week, and involved exposure to toxic materials like coal dust, which could cause ‘black lung’.
What was the impact of Industrial Revolution on child labour?
- Children were put to work in many industries.
- Children were seen as useful because they were small and cheap. For example, chimney cleaners would hire small boys who were sent into the chimneys of large homes and business to clean out soot.
- Kids started work as young as ages 7-10.
- Child labourers sometimes only received food as ‘wages’ and so were essentially child slaves.
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What were the Factory Acts?
People became so disturbed by the extreme impacts of the Industrial Revolution that new laws, called the Factory Acts, were written. Children were among the first to benefit. The new laws meant:
- In 1802, it became illegal to have children work more than 12 hours straight in cottom mills.
- In 1819, it became illegal to hire a child under nine years of age for work in the textile industry.
- In 1824, workers associations became legal, and an early form of labour unions was established.
Who were the upper, middle and lower class people during the Industrial Revolution?
Upper Class: These were the elite of British society. They kept themselves apart from the rest of British people.
Middle Class: In Industrial Revolution Britain, “middle class” meant that your father worked in the professions, such as a doctor, engineer or lawyer or was a business person with propertly and money.
Lower Class: A person who worked in the trades or in a facotry was considered lower class or working class.
The middle class and working class both grew in size during the Industrial Revolution.
What were workers’ associations?
Workers hoped that by banding together they would be able to influence their employer and make their working conditions better. Initially, the British government declared workers associations illegal.
Who were the Social Reformers?
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, social reofrmers tried to improve life for the lower class. Some were concerned with helping children, including providing free schooling.
What were ‘ragged schools’?
With the support of donors, ‘ragged schools’ offered free lessons and food to needy children. They were called ‘ragged schools’ because the students often had ragged clothing.
