Industrialism – Technology, Society, and Reform

Thesis

• The Industrial Revolution was more of a revolution of social structure than products and factories.

The First Industrial Revolution – 1700 to 1850’s

• There were a series of inventions that advanced the Industrial Revolution – this is a pictorial representation of that.

• This is mostly pre-steam power.

TEXTILE INVENTIONS

The Second Industrial Revolution – 1850-Early 1900’s

• When people started getting new power sources, that is when the revolution began to spread and expand.

• Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands were most greatly affected by the revolution.

POWER TECHNOLOGY

Social Structure• Social structure changed forever.– No more self-sustaining farms.– Destruction of the noble classes creates a vacuum

for the middle class factory owner – Bourgeoisie eventually becomes the dominant class by the end of the 19th century.

– Larger middle class – factory owners, doctors, lawyers, bankers, artisans, etc. – gained power

– Larger working class – factory workers, miners, rural laborers, - lost power

– Upwards of 75% of all early workers in factories women and children.

Thesis

• The most important movement to come out of the industrial era was the union movement.

Social Structure

• Early Industrial Rev.– Artisans still

outnumbered factory workers

– Had skills to ply– Large group of servants

among the lower classes.– Begin to see wealth as

the distinction between upper, middle, lower classes.

• Later Industrial Rev.– Artisans going away –

factory workers dominate.

– Attempted expansion of unions and guilds.

– Violent clashes between middle and lower classes

– Unskilled men push women and children out of positions

Captains of Industry (Robber Barons) – Late Industrialization

• These middle class leaders become the new rich.

• Bankers and financiers become more important – J.P. Morgan.

• Problems with monopolies of industries

• Despite these problems – wages remained stable with union pressure and prices dropped.

• OVERALL – the gap between the poor and the rich widened not because poor were poorer, but because rich became ultra rich.

Problems with Factory• Poor sanitation – lead to disease spreading

quickly• Unsafe machines – often times not

maintained.• Long hours = tired workers = Accidents• Because of lack of ventilation – smoke would

fill lungs• Often times in factory towns – owner of

factory also owned stores and lodging.

Child Labor*Children were abused in factories and allowed to work long hours.*At first they were limited in their hours – could only work if they were older than 9 and had to limit it to 12 hours until they were 18.*By 1854 the labor of children and women in mines was forbidden.*This dramatically dropped their number in the workforce, but they still were abused until the early 1900’s.

Reform Movements

• Chartist Movement• The Luddites• Peterloo (Reading the Riot Act)• Socialism and Marxism• Sadler Report / Commission - 1833

Chartist Movement

• 1838 – sought to get the People’s Charter passed

• Working class movement that sought to extend suffrage to all men and sought to eliminate property qualifications.

Luddites

• British movement against the textile changes.• Often times did so by destroying looms.• Named for Ned Ludd – fought with army and

lost….bad.• In France, same movement reflected in the

Sabbo, thrown in machines

Peterloo Riots and Massacre

• Riot happened in St. Peter’s field in Manchester, England 1819.

• Cavalry charged – 15 people died and 400 injured.

• Scandalous in London – led to parliament giving reforms to workers.

Socialism and Marxism

• Supported by workers as a redistribution of wealth.

• Radicalism that was put down by most governments in Europe.

Sadler Commission

• 1832 – Parliamentary investigation into the lives of factory workers in textiles.

• Led to the Reform Act of 1833.• See additional reading.

Women’s Suffrage Movement

• In mid-late 1800’s women start losing jobs in factories, however they are able to begin demanding more rights.

• Ironically, they don’t start winning rights until the men need them back in the factories (WWI)

• English, Colonies, and US lead the way

Women’s Suffrage

• Began with the publication “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” by Mary Wollstonecraft

• Initially W.S. tied to utopian movements.• By mid 19th century women began to advocate

for voting rights in colonies (Australia, US, New Zealand)

• English movement began with Reform Act of 1832, US movement began with Abolition movement.

Arguments Against Women’s Suffrage

• Women not intelligent enough• Would destroy the family – women would be

encouraged to work more and become ‘uncouth’

• Afraid women would only be influenced by husbands

• Socialists tied it to economic issues

Leaders

• England– Women could vote for

local officials in late 1800’s.

– Emmeline Pankhurst set up Womens Francise League in 1889.

– Considered extremists– Instrumental in getting

vote by 1918 in the Representation of the People’s Act

• USA– 1848 – Seneca Falls

Convention• Elizabeth Cady Stanton• Susan B. Anthony

– National Women’s Party set up in 1917

– By 1919, the 20th amendment makes the vote official in US.

Leaders

• Germany – Clara Zetkin• Secretary of the

Bookbinders Union despite being ineligible to be a member.

• Eventually elected to German Reichstag and prominent in Communist Party in Germany.

Actual Reform Laws

• 1802• Health and Morals of Apprentices Act • Hours of work were limited to 12 per day, with no

night work allowed. • Employers were to provide education, decent clothing

and accommodation. • Inspectors were to enforce the Act and appoint

visitors. • For all textile factories employing over 20 persons,

proper ventilation was to be provided and mills were to be whitewashed twice a year.

Reform Laws (Cont.)• 1833• Factory Act • No children under 9 were to work in factories

(silk mills exempted). • Children under 13 years were to work no more

than 9 hours per day and 48 hours per week. • Children under 18 were not to work nights. • 4 paid Inspectors were appointed. • Two 8-hour shifts per day of children were to be

allowed.

Reform Laws Cont.

• 1834 • Poor Laws Amendment• Established workhouses to help those

desperate for work and money.• HATED by workers and only gone to at last

resort.• Charles Dickens wrote about them – Oliver

Twist.

Reform Laws Continued

• 1878• Factory Act • Extended the Factory Acts to all industries. • No child anywhere under the age of 10 was to be

employed. • 10-14 year olds could only be employed for half

days. • Women were to work no more than 56 hours per

week