Summary of Industrial Revolution Working Conditions

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The Industrial Revolution led to improved living conditions for the middle class, but caused poor working conditions for the industrial working class, who were often required to work long hours for minimal pay. Women and children made up a large percentage of the workforce, and they often worked in harsh conditions with no security of employment. Many workers were fined for various reasons, and there were no protection laws in place during this time.

• 00:00:00 The Industrial Revolution in Britain led to the luxurious lifestyle of the industrial middle class, while the industrial working class suffered due to the poor conditions of their jobs. Women and children as young as five years old made up two-thirds of the cotton mill workforce, and they worked in harsh conditions for 12 to 16 hours each day, six days a week. The workers did not stop for meals, and there was no security of employment. Women were required to work while pregnant, and child laborers were often beaten for making mistakes or falling asleep on their job. The wage of these workers was very low, and in fact winders were paid only two to four shillings a week and Weaver's five to eight shillings a week. Men mined coal from inside the mines, and were paid ten to fifteen shillings per week but there were many fines and fees deducted from their pay. They were charged for the usage of candles, and were fined if the quality of the coal they produced did not meet the high expectations of the mining company. Just like the cotton mills, there is no security of employment and no protection laws for workers during the Industrial Revolution. They faced long hours poor working conditions, hard work and minimal pay.