1. Introduction:
The Industrial Revolution was the introduction of new manufacturing styles, including going from hand production methods to machines. The first industry to use modern production methods was the textile industry (Landes D. S., 1969). It created a major turning point in history where almost every aspect of our daily lives was influenced in some way (Lucas, 2002). Some economist stated that one of the biggest impacts of the Industrial Revolution was the consistent increase of the general population’s living standard, although it is said that it did not meaningfully improve until the late 19th and 20th centuries (Feinstein, 1998).
The Industrial Revolution originated in Great Britain and within a few decades spread to Western …show more content…
Social effects of the Industrial Revolution:
4.1 Standards of Living:
There was a remarkable increase in worker wages during 1813 to 1913 (Hartwell, 1963). According to studies done about the living standards of the majority of the population Britain’s real wages only increased approximately 15% between 1780’s and 1850’s. The life expectancy only started to increase in the 1870’s (Feinstein, 1998).
Until the late 19th century, the majority of the population suffered from malnutrition and the life expectancy was about 35 years (Fogel, 2004). There was a number of factors which influenced the decrease in food prices. One of the main factors was transportation improvements for example canals and improved roads, as well as the introduction of railroads near the end of the revolution.
4.2 Labour Conditions:
The implementation of machinery has increased productivity and created an increase in the demand for employment. Unfortunately, this also influenced their labour conditions, since employers now expected employees to perform at the pace set by machines. This thus increased their working hours and in most industries workers had between a 10 hour to 12 hour workday, but they still earned between 20% and 40% less than the minimum wage that was needed to live decent life (Library of Congress Country …show more content…
Working conditions was very harsh, especially with the cruelty of child labour. Workers’ living conditions was terrible (Kidd, 2006).
Child labour was very common during the Industrial Revolution since employers can pay less for these type of labour, even though their output was virtually the same. Because there were very limited opportunities for any education, cruel child labour was most children’s fate
The Industrial Revolution was the introduction of new manufacturing styles, including going from hand production methods to machines. The first industry to use modern production methods was the textile industry (Landes D. S., 1969). It created a major turning point in history where almost every aspect of our daily lives was influenced in some way (Lucas, 2002). Some economist stated that one of the biggest impacts of the Industrial Revolution was the consistent increase of the general population’s living standard, although it is said that it did not meaningfully improve until the late 19th and 20th centuries (Feinstein, 1998).
The Industrial Revolution originated in Great Britain and within a few decades spread to Western …show more content…
Social effects of the Industrial Revolution:
4.1 Standards of Living:
There was a remarkable increase in worker wages during 1813 to 1913 (Hartwell, 1963). According to studies done about the living standards of the majority of the population Britain’s real wages only increased approximately 15% between 1780’s and 1850’s. The life expectancy only started to increase in the 1870’s (Feinstein, 1998).
Until the late 19th century, the majority of the population suffered from malnutrition and the life expectancy was about 35 years (Fogel, 2004). There was a number of factors which influenced the decrease in food prices. One of the main factors was transportation improvements for example canals and improved roads, as well as the introduction of railroads near the end of the revolution.
4.2 Labour Conditions:
The implementation of machinery has increased productivity and created an increase in the demand for employment. Unfortunately, this also influenced their labour conditions, since employers now expected employees to perform at the pace set by machines. This thus increased their working hours and in most industries workers had between a 10 hour to 12 hour workday, but they still earned between 20% and 40% less than the minimum wage that was needed to live decent life (Library of Congress Country …show more content…
Working conditions was very harsh, especially with the cruelty of child labour. Workers’ living conditions was terrible (Kidd, 2006).
Child labour was very common during the Industrial Revolution since employers can pay less for these type of labour, even though their output was virtually the same. Because there were very limited opportunities for any education, cruel child labour was most children’s fate