preview

Negative Effects Of The Industrial Revolution

Decent Essays

England's previous success from the Agricultural Revolution gave leeway to the Industrial Revolution of the seventeenth and eighteenth hundreds. Previous landowners and investors of the Agricultural Revolution were able to start or participate Corporations and Businesses to seek great profit. New machinery and technological innovations were frequent due to the demand for faster, more efficient technology. Working class families, who were arguably the sole reason for the grand success of the Industrial Revolution, moved from their farms into crowded and dirty urban towns to work long hours in harsh factories for little pay in hopes of one day living a decent life, while the middle class gained many luxuries and lived lavish lifestyles …show more content…

All these advancements in technology were arguably the best effects of the Industrial Revolution, everything seemingly was becoming increasingly larger, faster, and generally improved upon. The workers of the Industrial Revolution endured the worst of the Industrial Revolution and received the least care and appreciation, not only was there a large chance of being crushed by the machine you worked on for 16 hours a day, dirty and unforgiving work spaces led to both the destruction of a worker's body physically and internally. For example, in a heartbreaking testimony by factory worker Joseph Hebergam, not only severely damaged his lungs and bones from overwork, lack of nutrition, and dust in factories, but also witnessed kids wounded and even crushed by factory machines (including his own brother) because of uncovered machinery. In addition to Joseph Hebergrams testimony, William Cooper testified against the strenuous working hours in factories, Joseph claimed they worked 16 hours a day (that is two thirds of an ENTIRE day) with one 45 minute break, if workers were to slow down in pace they were whipped. Lastly, still referring from 28 year old (who worked from age 10) William Cooper's testimony, mentioned that he never learned to write and receive proper education due to long working hours which occupied most of his life. In any point of view, there is no justification for the way workers of the Industrial Revolution were treated, and

Get Access