The Negative Effects Of The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was very important to society. The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840. While some might argue that Industrialization had primarily positive consequences for society because more products were made, it was actually a negative thing for society. Industrialization’s negative effects were child labor, working long hours and dangerous positions. The Industrial Revolution had many side effects on society, including negative effects such as child labor. For example, “Lewis Hine’s photograph shows just how young the children are when they are at work in the factories” (Document 8). In the photo described above, clearly show

Back in the Industrial Revolution the working hours were long and painful. For example, “C: What were your hours of labour in that mill? B: From 5 in the morning till 9 at night, when they were thronged” (Document 7). In this dialogue between Elizabeth Bentley and the committee, Elizabeth explained when she started working and when she ended. She also explained how the children would get thronged so they would move faster. Another example is “A stranger am I to my child; (1) And he one to me” (Document 2). In this poem it makes it clear how the work hours were very long. A mother from the Industrial Revolution wrote a poem, in the last few lines of the poem, it hits the thought that because of the long work hours a mother and son rarely see each other and rarely speak. Another example of the long working hours is, “Encarta Online Encyclopedia’s photo shows the unsanitary environment the children are in, meaning women and men of the children were not at the house enough so they can actually clean up a little” (Document 6). The fact that the tenements were so dirty is one thing, but the other major problem is that the women and men are definitely not having the time nor energy to clean the tenements. The long hours of working would drain all the energy out of the men and women and all they would want to do is sleep, but the women have to go home feed the men and children and take care of

For example, “C: It is very common to have weak ankles and crooked knees? B: Yes, very common indeed. C: This is brought on by stopping the spindle? B: Yes.” (Document 7). As you can see from the dialogue above between the committee and Elizabeth Bentley the dangerous working positions were not rare. The dangerous working positions had an effect on the workers because if something did happen it would be permanently there. Another example is, “Lewis Hine’s photograph shows how dangerous the machines where the children were working practically inside the machine.” (Document 8). From looking and analyzing this photo it was obvious that the working conditions that the men, women, and children were put in were very dangerous. The children were literally inside the machine working next to very fast things that could easily hurt them in one wrong move. Finally, “C: Explain what you had to do. B: When the frames are full, they have to stop the frames, and take the full bobbins off, and carry them to the roller, and then put empty ones on, and set the frame going again. (Document 7).” In this piece of dialogue, it is easy to see that working in the factories, the workers had to be precise and do their best not to mess up. If they did then it would most likely do something wrong and it would make it even more dangerous because the worker would have to go to the problem and fix it so they can