Living Conditions During The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a time of change, the birth of the factory system. Overall, it was a shift from handmade products to products made by powered, special-purpose machines in factories and assembly lines. The main idea was to produce more products in the same amount of time. The Industrial Revolution caused an improvement in living standards for the middle and upper class, but caused grim employment and living conditions for the poor and working class (Industrial Revolution). Normally chimney sweepers were orphans or children sold by their poverty-stricken parents. These children experienced physical and mental distress due to their work and living environments. The children who chimney swept had lifelong injuries and problems
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due to the dangers and physical strain chimney cleaning put on the body. The chimney sweepers’ injuries were normally caused by the tight quarters and soot that they were expected to work in. These injuries consisted of twisted spines and kneecaps, deformed ankles, eye inflammation, and respiratory illnesses (Role of Children). The children’s bones could become disfigured from these injuries and cause stunted growth. In many instances, boys choked and suffocated to death by dust inhalation. Others got stuck in tight turns of the chimney and died because they could not get out. Children who worked as chimney sweepers rarely lived past middle age.
The chimney sweep Master did not treat the children workers very well.
The children were not paid, scarcely feed, seldom showered, and barely clothed. Living conditions for the workers were awful. The children slept on sacks of soot and often slept in cellars. On top of this they rarely showered, so they had years of soot and grime on their skin which lead to some of the boys developing testicle cancer (History of the Craft). If living in these conditions were not enough, if the boys did not work to the expectations of the Master then he would be punished. The Master would force the child up the flue and then lit a fire, forcing the child to climb up the flue to not get burnt (Role of Children). These children were used as cheap labor, practically indentured servants, and they were treated as if they were worth nothing. The mental and emotional pain the children felt from their situation is beyond belief. First, the children had to deal with their parents selling them into such horrible conditions. Then, they were forced to worked for nothing and were dangerously punished if they did not perform as the Master wanted. It took many years and many untimely deaths for the work conditions of chimney sweepers to
change.
due to the dangers and physical strain chimney cleaning put on the body. The chimney sweepers’ injuries were normally caused by the tight quarters and soot that they were expected to work in. These injuries consisted of twisted spines and kneecaps, deformed ankles, eye inflammation, and respiratory illnesses (Role of Children). The children’s bones could become disfigured from these injuries and cause stunted growth. In many instances, boys choked and suffocated to death by dust inhalation. Others got stuck in tight turns of the chimney and died because they could not get out. Children who worked as chimney sweepers rarely lived past middle age.
The chimney sweep Master did not treat the children workers very well.
The children were not paid, scarcely feed, seldom showered, and barely clothed. Living conditions for the workers were awful. The children slept on sacks of soot and often slept in cellars. On top of this they rarely showered, so they had years of soot and grime on their skin which lead to some of the boys developing testicle cancer (History of the Craft). If living in these conditions were not enough, if the boys did not work to the expectations of the Master then he would be punished. The Master would force the child up the flue and then lit a fire, forcing the child to climb up the flue to not get burnt (Role of Children). These children were used as cheap labor, practically indentured servants, and they were treated as if they were worth nothing. The mental and emotional pain the children felt from their situation is beyond belief. First, the children had to deal with their parents selling them into such horrible conditions. Then, they were forced to worked for nothing and were dangerously punished if they did not perform as the Master wanted. It took many years and many untimely deaths for the work conditions of chimney sweepers to
change.