Living/Working In Industrial Britain Flashcards
Where was most migration in Britain during industrialisation?
Rural - urban migration
What were the positives of back-back housing?
Very small ( only 4m wide, 2 rooms) so allowed space for increased migration and population in cities to live
What were the negatives of back to back housing?
Created illness as poor conditions
In 1801, what percentage of Birmingham’s population lived in back-to-back houses?
66%
What was the main cause of sanitation issues in Britain due to industrialisation?
Overcrowding of water pumps and poor sanitation in toilets created many diseases
What occurred in Sunderland in 1831?
Cholera outbreak killing 32,000
What is an example of class separation in living conditions due to industrialisation?
Middle class lived on outskirts of the city where there was more space + better sanitation, working class lived in the city
What were working conditions like in industrialised Britain?
Cramped, lack of independence, long hours and unsafe conditions
What was legislation like before 1833 for working conditions?
Little to none
What were men’s working weeks like in factories?
6 day weeks, 14 hours a day
Why did men see little improvement in working conditions even after acts were passed I.e 1833 factory act?
Reforms mainly only helped women and children
What were some examples of over-discipline in factories ?
If workers were late by 10 minutes,fined 2 hours wages + talking could be fined 1/2 days wage
Why were working conditions so poor in factories?
Employers dictated the conditions of their factories, usually profit driven and little care for workers as replaceable - created high injury rate
What were some dangers of mine-working ?
Shafts collapsing, flooding, gas explosion - could lead to death
Why were mines becoming more dangerous during industrialisation?
Demand for coal increased ( 6 million tonnes in 1770 to 55 million tonnes in 1850) - lead to mines deepening to up to 300m, greater risk
What were the issues with mine work which created large unemployment issues?
Miners were bound to a contract by an employer - employers weren’t obliged to provide work all the time
What were women’s usual weekly wages?
12-15 shillings a week ( 1/2 of men )
Why were women useful to employers?
Employers could pay women less and they would usually do work men refused
How were women benefitted by the 1833 factory act?
Reduced hours, but in 1878 still worked 56 hour weeks
In 1821, what % of workers were under 20?
49%
What was a dangerous job usually asked of a child?
Pieceners, often lost to injuries like loss of limbs ( especially fingers)
In mines in 1842, what % of workers were under under 19 and what was there usual jobs?
20%, trappers
What age did some children start working in mines?
6
How did the 1842 mining act benefit children working in mines?
Children under the age of 10 couldn’t work in mines
How did further reform in mines help children in 1850?
Minimum working age in mines raised again to 12
Why were developments to working class conditions slow?
Middle-class lacked humanity + government didn’t want to intervene as were benefiting from laissez-faire ideology
Why did developments to working-class conditions increase later on in industrialisation ?
Increased awareness of the working class labour pushing industrialisation, needed to be protected more
How much coal was used in Britain in 1770 ?
6 million tonnes
How much coal was used in Britain in 1850?
55 million tonnes
