19th Century Industrial Workers In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

The Jungle, published by Upton Sinclair in 1906, showcases the working conditions of a 19th-century industrial worker. This book depicts the harsh working and living conditions, and working class poverty. These were all very real things almost every worker endured. Hours were long, wages were low, and working conditions were very hazardous. It was not uncommon for a worker to be seriously injured or even killed while on the job. The conditions were often far worse for women who made up a large majority of the industries and were paid much less than their male counterparts. Children as young as five years old also worked in factories and faced much more dangerous jobs for lower pay. A childs first job was usually either a scavenger or piercer. …show more content…
This was extremely hazardous, often resulting in death or mutilation. A piercer was someone who watched over the power looms and tied any loose threads broken by machinery. Children with this job title worked for 12 hours straight, standing the entire time which resulted in flat feet, bowed legs, and bad backs. It was not uncommon for men, women, and children to work exceptionally long hours. In fact, before Massachusetts passed a labor law in 1874 which limited the amount of hours women and children could work, there were virtually no laws enact that restricted the amount of hours a laborer could work. Obviously the law enacted in Massachusetts did not help any other workers in other states. It would not be until the 1930’s until the federal government would become involved. In the meantime, workers continued to endure the current working