The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on British Society

Between 1750 and 1850 Britain became an Industrialized Country

People's lives changed dramatically during this period of history. With the Industrial Revolution, agrarian activities were replaced by factories. This massive revolution had an impact on living conditions, travel, types of work, and social and political changes.

The First Cotton Factory and the Transformation of Working Conditions

The mills, which were in the factories, were revolutionary in the way they changed the working conditions and lifestyle of the population. Because these machines were automatic, the work in the mills was done mainly by unskilled laborers. Two-thirds of the workforce was made up of women and children. Some of these children were pauper apprentices, which means that orphans were sent to work in the factories by the town authorities or the workhouse that looks after them. In other cases, families worked together in the mill. Children were the ones who suffered the most. They weren't paid as much as an adult and they crawled under the machines to repair broken threads or put back some pieces of the machinery. These factories were characterized by being dirty, humid, dark, and noisy.

In summary, the Industrial Revolution brought negative consequences to laborers, but on the other hand, the bourgeoisie gained power during this time. They became nationally important figures as they were the owners of the factories. They were very wealthy because not only did they sell, but they also paid low wages to laborers. The machines produced more goods, so they sold more, and as a result, they became richer. However, the Industrial Revolution had both positive and negative aspects which affected people in different ways. Laborers were harmed because they worked and lived in very poor conditions, while the bourgeoisie took great advantage of the Industrial Revolution and became wealthier.