Effects Of The Industrial Revolution
World as we know it today is only a product of continual evolution in technology and methods of production. Throughout history, humans have sought to find easier ways to complete tasks and produce needed goods. While goods were constantly being produced, the time period known as the Industrial Revolution forever changed the production of goods. New machines and factories led to more efficient means for producing goods. With this revolutionary time period came many effects, both positive and negative, as well as responses to these effects that would eventually lead to the world as we know it today. Some effects, however, had both positive and negative impacts on the economy. For example, rapid industrialization led to lower wages. As machines
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Document #2 is a prime example of someone calling for a change. A Testimony by a Commission of Medical Examiners in 1833 discusses how the amount of work kids were being put through was not healthy for children. The testimony states that not even adults could endure the amount of strain being put on the children's’ bodies. It also recommends that there be a maximum limit of 8 hours per day for children and 10 hours per day for adults. Along with shorter hours, it was also argued that employees should be under looser watch. Workers were often beaten if they didn’t perform to the satisfaction of their employer. Samuel Smiles, in his piece Self-Help (1859, Document #8) argues that workers are more likely to improve under their own supervision, as they take more pride in their work. When under the strict requirements of their boss, they simply finish their tasks to the minimum point in which they will not be punished. Smiles believes factory owners should provide less guidance to their employees both for the benefit of the employees as well as the owners themselves. While most people argued that workers should have better working conditions, the Earl of Shaftsbury pointed out that there should actually be less workers, in his House of Commons Speech (1844). The Earl states that with the new advanced machinery, less workers should need to be employed. Instead, he points out, that more workers are needed to work the machines as they are dangerous and the workers are afraid to operate such dangers alone. He believes they need to reach a point when the machines can do their jobs efficiently without being harmful to any
Document #2 is a prime example of someone calling for a change. A Testimony by a Commission of Medical Examiners in 1833 discusses how the amount of work kids were being put through was not healthy for children. The testimony states that not even adults could endure the amount of strain being put on the children's’ bodies. It also recommends that there be a maximum limit of 8 hours per day for children and 10 hours per day for adults. Along with shorter hours, it was also argued that employees should be under looser watch. Workers were often beaten if they didn’t perform to the satisfaction of their employer. Samuel Smiles, in his piece Self-Help (1859, Document #8) argues that workers are more likely to improve under their own supervision, as they take more pride in their work. When under the strict requirements of their boss, they simply finish their tasks to the minimum point in which they will not be punished. Smiles believes factory owners should provide less guidance to their employees both for the benefit of the employees as well as the owners themselves. While most people argued that workers should have better working conditions, the Earl of Shaftsbury pointed out that there should actually be less workers, in his House of Commons Speech (1844). The Earl states that with the new advanced machinery, less workers should need to be employed. Instead, he points out, that more workers are needed to work the machines as they are dangerous and the workers are afraid to operate such dangers alone. He believes they need to reach a point when the machines can do their jobs efficiently without being harmful to any