Industrial Revolution

1750–1900

What was the impact of the

factory system on working
conditions?
 Learning To describe some
Objectives effects that the factory
system had on working
Impact of the factory system
conditions.
Before
BritainIndustrial
in 1750:Revolution: After Industrial
Britain in 1900:Revolution:
THE BIRTH OF
THE FACTORY
Most factories built close to water for a start so that the water power could
run the mills. In 1790 Arkwright built his first steam powered mill. Liberated
factories from having to be so close to a water supply.
Life at any time can never be described as simply
‘good’ or ‘bad’.
There are always different views about all kinds of
different features about the past.

There are both positive and negative aspects of

working in a factory?
Limits on age of Guaranteed work A house provided
children allowed in factories for your family
to work there
after 1833
Minimum wage

Libraries, Positive
chapels, bath things about Orphans provided
houses Factory Work with work and food
provided.

Good wages Some factories

allowed children
Schools to work there
Excitement of provided for so families
using new children of could get more
technology factory workers money
How did the Industrial Revolution
impact people’s lives?
 Domestic to Factory System
The time of the Industrial Revolution was an exciting time for
many. Lots of change, lots of movement, new opportunities!

The shift from the domestic system of production to the factory

system of production was made possible by advancements in
technology (new inventions).

This was the start of mass production/consumption. People

started to go to work in factories, instead of working from home
or in the land. Factory owners sought to control and discipline
their workforce through a system of:

-Long working hours

-Fines
-Low wages.
Factory Working Conditions - the negatives

Long working hours – normal shifts were recorded as 12

to 14 hours a day.

Low wages –15 shillings (75p) a week.

Women and children were paid much lower wages, with
women earning 7 shillings (35p) and children 3 shillings
(15p).

QUESTION!
Who do you think that factory owners would prefer to
employ in their factories? Why?
Do you think that this could cause any problems?
 Factory Working Conditions

1. Cruel discipline – frequent ‘strapping’ (it was

claimed that children had been thrashed to
death).
2. Women and children were easily bullied. One
witness claimed that he had seen an iron bar
driven through the cheek of one girl. Other alleged
punishments included hanging iron weights
around children’s necks, hanging them from the
roof in baskets, nailing a child’s ear to the table,
and dowsing them in water butts to keep them
awake.
 Factory Working Conditions (cont.)
3. Fierce system of fines – fines
were imposed for things like talking
or whistling, leaving the room
without permission, of having a
little dirt on a machine.

4. Deformities – many children who

were forced to stand for long hours
grew up with conditions such as
knock-knees and bow legs.
 Factory Working Conditions (cont.)

5. Accidents – children were forced to crawl into dangerous,

unguarded machinery – often when they were so tired they
were falling asleep on their feet. 40 percent of accident cases
at Manchester Infirmary in 1833 were factory accidents.

6. Health – cotton thread had to be spun in damp conditions.

Going straight out into the cold night air led to many cases
of pneumonia. The air was full of dust, which led to chest
and lung diseases and loud noise made by machines
damaged workers' hearing.
Sourcework Task
You are now going to investigate some primary sources about
working conditions in coal mines.

Coal was very important as it was the main source of

combustible in the Industrial Revolution and it is what kept
factories and engines going. With people now making big $$$
$ out of factories, coal became an essential element to keep
industry going!
 Glossary
Key Terms
Keyword Definition
Industrial The making of goods in a factory

Revolution Rapid dramatic change

Domestic System Small scale industry operating from people’s home

Factory System Large scale industry operating on purposely built

premises
Raw materials Materials used to make goods e.g timber or wool

Manufacturing The production of goods