Social History (Conditions of Labor)

8/8/2019 Social History (Conditions of Labor)

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SOCIAL HISTORY

LABOR CONDITIONS

Erin Venable

Melissa Krause

Suresh Rav

Julia Dalzell

(Factory Labor)


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WORKING CONDITIONS

People generally worked many hours(as many as 14-16)

Some employers physically beat theiremployees

Had very little to eat

There was a lot of work to do Workers paid very little

Very dusty in some workenvironments

Unclean

Lack of drainage and ventilationspread disease

Disease spread quickly in thefactories, causing serious illness anddeath

Dangerous working conditions

(Victorian Workhouse)


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WORKING CLASS ATTITUDES

The people were generally accepting of the

harsh nature of their lives.

They looked to religion and their families. They worked through their issues and did not

worry about harsh conditions.

They were mainly oblivious to national affairsand concerned themselves with local affairs.


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WOMEN

Women provided another pool for the laborforce that was necessary to the changingeconomy of the time

Most of the unreported working womenworked within their own homes to help with

the trades of the family By the latter end of the century women

were working as writers, doctors, andwithin the religious field

Women ran inns, hotels, and pubs

Women also managed stores andbusinesses, the scope of which increasedthroughout the Victorian Era

("Slum Life Cartoon 3")


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CHILDREN

Many families required the hard workof their children to support thehousehold

Many children were forced into theworkforce due to harsh economictimes Dickens also spent his time at a

Blacking Factory at age 12 Most children started work at age 5

This work was generally very dangerousand lasted around 16 hours

Much of the workforce wasconcentrated in iron and coal mines,gas works, shipyards, construction,match and nail factories, and the

business of chimney sweeping Children were considered fortunate if

they found work as an apprentice or ifthey were servants

In terms of schooling, very few childrenfrom ages 5 to 15, were actuallyenrolled in school by 1860

("Working Children")

("Working Children 2.)


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WAGES & BANKRUPTCY

Wage change occurred duringthe large expanse of theVictorian age.

London saw itself change fromlargely rural, lightly industrializedcountry to a heavily

industrialized urban nation Middle Class bankruptcy was

only really a threat if the personwas completely inefficient or theeconomic situation wasincreasingly dire

Lower Classes Had to accept any job to keep

off the street and out of debt Mainly worked in the hazardous

job fields



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RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE

Evangelicalism andMethodism are majorreligions accredited with theimproving the general

manners and demeanor ofthe Victorian population

Many people looked to thechurch to deal with theirharsh lives

Credit is given to the churchfor aiding troubled peoplefrom criminals into workingpeople.

("Victorian Church.)


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CITY LIFE

England was full of smokeblackened industrial townsfrom the coal fired andsteam driven technology

Cities were grim whichcreated dim lighting thatmade it harder to work

Victorian pubs bright and

inviting and loud People went their to escape

their harsh daily situations



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CRIME

Crime was prevalentin Victorian London

theft, drunkenness,and prostitution

Crime was usually not

solved, sometimesnot even recognized

As the MetropolitanPolice Force grew andtechnology improved,crime lessened

Telegraphs,

photograph, use offingerprinting allincreased chancesof catchingcriminals

Social conditions impacted

Elementary schools

Charities

Industrial revolution causedmuch crime and added

pressure, as people wereliving closer together

Many violent acts (such asin a robbery) turned intomurder

Records were poor andunorganized

("Pick Pocket.)


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RELEVANCE TO DICKENS

Popular for writers in the Victorian Age toinclude bankruptcy in their books and thepoverty faced by the masses

Dickens and other popular authors wroteabout topics that appealed to the middle

class-- the majority of their reading public The lack of education provided to many

children influenced Dickens as he himselfwas forced into work at a young age

Also worked in poor conditions

Many of Dickens works have criminals asmajor characters (Great Expectations,

Oliver Twist) Many criminals were forced into a life of

crime after they were unable to find workand income ("Charles Dickens.)


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PICTURE CITATIONS

"Factory Labor." Downside to Victorian England. Web. 21 Sep 2010..

"Victorian Workhouse." Journal Live. Web. 21 Sep 2010..

"Slum Life Cartoon 3." Cartoon Stock. Web. 21 Sep

2010.. "Working Children." Child Labour. Web. 21 Sep 2010. .

"Working Children 2." Downside to Victorian England. Web. 21 Sep 2010.http://problemsduringthevictorianera.come2me.nl/1033366/Child-Labor

"Slum Life Cartoon 8." Cartoon Stock. Web. 21 Sep 2010..

"Victorian Church." Web. 21 Sep 2010. .

"Slum Life Cartoon 7." Cartoon Stock. Web. 21 Sep2010..

"Pick Pocket." The Condenser. Web. 21 Sep2010.

"Charles Dickens." The Victorian Era Online. Web. 21 Sep 2010..

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Social History (Conditions of Labor)