Industrial City Life: Neighbourhoods, Working Conditions and Early Labour Movements

LIFE IN AN INDUSTRIAL CITY

Middle-Class Neighbourhoods

Middle-class neighbourhoods were extensions of the historic city centre, built far away from the noise and pollution of the factories. They were well planned, with straight, wide avenues, gas street lights, shops, theatres and tramlines. Homes were usually large, well built and comfortable, sometimes with several floors.

Working-Class Neighbourhoods

Working-class neighbourhoods were built in marginal areas on the outskirts of the city, often near factories. The streets were narrow and not well planned, and there was usually no lighting or other public services. The houses in these areas were usually small, poorly built and uncomfortable.

Class Divisions and Living Conditions

For bourgeois capitalists, industrialisation brought greater profits. They acquired an improved standard of living, with advantages such as comfortable homes, good education for their children, healthcare and leisure activities. The working class, however, worked and lived in terrible conditions. It was in response to these working conditions that the first working-class political movements emerged during the 19th century.

Industrial Working Conditions

Working conditions in factories were generally dangerous and unhealthy:

• Machinery in most factories was unprotected, and accidents and injuries were a common occurrence.
• A typical working day was an exhausting 14 to 16 hours long, but wages were low. As a consequence, young children often worked to increase the family income.
• Employers could dismiss or fine workers without restrictions.
• Workers did not have the right to protest or go on strike.
• There was no social insurance or benefits to help workers in cases of illness, accident and unemployment.

Employers' Opposition to Reform

Harsh working conditions led to protests against factory owners. These owners opposed workers' demands because they thought that improving conditions would be bad for business and reduce their profits. Governments did not support workers' rights either. For example, some governments banned workers' associations.

The First Working-Class Movements

• The Luddites (1811): This group was an early manifestation of organised working-class protest. They were hostile to new technology because they thought that machines took jobs from workers. They often protested by destroying machines in factories.
• Early trade unions (1830s): The first trade unions were founded in Britain. These were associations of workers in particular types of work, for example miners and textile workers. Trade unions demanded improved working conditions and better wages, and also supported their members in cases of accident or illness.
• The Chartist movement (1838): Chartists demanded political changes, including universal manhood suffrage. They also petitioned Parliament to pass laws which would improve workers' conditions.

At first, these movements and organisations did not achieve their objectives, until the mid-19th century.