The Industrial Revolution: Impact and Responses

Hand Labour And Steam Power (Life of Workers)

Life Of The Workers

The life of industrial workers during the Industrial Revolution was extremely harsh. Most workers came from rural areas in search of jobs and were forced to accept low wages, long working hours, and poor working conditions.

Factory owners prioritised profit and efficiency over worker welfare. The environment inside factories was unsafe, noisy, and unregulated. Accidents were frequent, and medical assistance was negligible.

Workers had no job security. If demand fell or machines replaced their work, they were instantly unemployed. Overcrowded slums and unsanitary living conditions led to frequent outbreaks of disease.

Factories Come Up (Workers)

Where Did The Workers Come From?

Industrialisation triggered large-scale migration. Workers came from villages and small towns, pushed by poverty, landlessness, and famines. Cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Calcutta (in India) expanded rapidly as industrial centres.

Many were landless labourers, small peasants, or artisans who had lost their livelihood due to competition from machine-made goods. In India, British imports of cheap textiles destroyed traditional handloom industries, forcing artisans to seek jobs in new factories.

These migrants formed the new industrial workforce and often had to rely on seasonal work, which made their lives unstable and insecure.

Changed Lives (Industrial Revolution impact)

The Workers

The lives of workers underwent major changes. The shift from home-based work to factories meant loss of control over work hours and pace. They now worked under supervisors and time clocks.

While wages were slightly better than agricultural work, they were not sufficient to afford decent housing, food, or education. Workers often lived in shanty towns with no drainage or clean water.

Strikes and labour unrest became common as workers demanded better wages, fixed hours, and humane working conditions.

Women, Children And Industrialisation

Women and children formed a large part of the industrial workforce. They were preferred because they could be paid less and were more easily controlled by factory owners.

Children as young as 6 or 7 years were made to work 12-14 hours a day in textile mills and coal mines. They were denied education and often suffered from chronic illnesses and stunted growth.

Women faced double oppression — long factory hours and domestic responsibilities. They were excluded from formal labour unions and denied workplace rights for many decades.

Protest Movements (Industrial Revolution)

The miserable conditions of workers led to a series of protest movements across Europe and Britain. The most famous of these was the Luddite Movement (1811–1817) in England, where workers destroyed machines that they believed were taking their jobs.

Trade unions began to form in the 19th century to protect worker interests. These unions organised strikes, protests, and negotiated with employers for better pay and working conditions.

In India, the first organised strike by mill workers took place in Bombay in 1890s. The ideas of socialism and communism, which emerged during this time, aimed to end worker exploitation and redistribute wealth more equally.

Reforms Through Laws (Industrial Revolution)

Public pressure and the efforts of reformers gradually led to legislative reforms during the 19th and early 20th centuries to protect workers.

In Britain:

• Factory Act of 1833 – Banned child labour under 9 years and limited work hours
• Ten Hours Act (1847) – Limited women and children’s working day to 10 hours
• Trade Union Act (1871) – Legalised trade unions

In India:

• Factories Act of 1881 – First labour law limiting children’s working hours
• Factories Act of 1911 – Introduced working hour limits for adults

These reforms laid the foundation for modern labour rights and welfare legislation, though enforcement remained weak for many years.