Life Before The Industrial Revolution

Life before the Industrial Revolution was what some might say, a well oiled machine. Most people had their roles in their areas of expertise. For example: The shepherds sheared sheep, they sold it to seamstresses who pulled the wool, then made it into fabric on the spinning wheel, then made clothing. Scarves, hats, and sweaters were made to sell. Everyone knew what they were doing, and everyone was alright. This was until the Industrial Revolution started to manifest. Things began changing during this time. Machines were made, as well as factories. The machines were more efficient and produced items identical to the one before it. All was well in the beginning. There were more products being made, more people were able to afford these products so there was more demand. Adam Smith said, “When supply is low, demand is high” Keeping with this statement, the demand when there was only man making goods, was high because the supply was lower than it was when the machines came around. The machines were faster to produce these items than man, so demand
Not only did adults work in these factories. In order for families from a former cottage industry to support themselves, all members of that family would work. Women were allowed to work, instead of being stay at home moms because that was no longer necessary, since children as young as 5 years old would be left to work with the machines. The conditions were unsuitable for anyone. There were no saftey procaistons, so in the factories there were many possibilities of injury or death for all ages and genders. If a woman’s hair got caught in a machine, they would have to get it out and hope none of it came out. Children and adults could fall into machines, or get hurt by these machines, and there was nothing they could do about