Factory Act Of 1800 Essay

Although the Industrial Revolution brought much wealth for the upper class in Europe, child labor and poor working conditions became a huge debate throughout the country. Factories improved the standard of living and boosted the economy, but change came with a price. Factory owners, eager in their attempts to become wealthy, would stop at nothing to power their businesses. Therefore, many attempts were made by individuals and groups to stop the cruelty that this working class was facing.
One effort to stop this abuse was through the Factory Act of 1833. Before the Factory Act of 1833 could be published, there were a variety of testimonies given by workers in the factories. These personal stories were the evidence Parliament needed to pass the Factory Act. And by passing this act, the health of children throughout the country could be guaranteed. One piece of evidence supporting the Factory Act was the testimony of John Wright. Wright was asked straightforward and easily understood questions such as, “What are the effects of the present system of labour?” (p. 393) which allowed the intended audience to easily understand the consequences of working in a factory at a young age. William Harter, explaining the reasons manufacturers required their employees to work such long hours, gave another testimony. Harter’s answer was simple: profit. In the factory owners’ opinions limiting the working hours of children would destroy their profits.
In addition to the
And while Industrial Revolution improved the quality of life for many individuals, it also took a heavy toll on factory workers, especially children. If it were not for Parliament, Engels, the Knights of Labor, and Lenin who brought light to the cruelty of the workers in these factories, the conditions might not have improved as