Industrial Revolution Responses
Responses to Industrial Revolution


In the early 1800s, a
group called the
Luddites protested
changes to the economy
brought about by the
Industrial Revolution.
With the creation of
new technologies, skilled
workers were losing
their jobs and wages
were shrinking.
Luddites

The accumulation of wealth was more
important to the factory owners than
equality and providing employment to the
working class.
Luddites

Factories and businesses
were designed to facilitate
industrial processes, and
workers were viewed as a
component of production.
◦ If the people could be
replaced by machines that
operated cheaper and faster,
the factory owners would
do it.
Luddites

By the early 19th Century, skilled textile
workers were being replaced by machines
operated by cheap, relatively unskilled
labourers.
◦ The replaced workers formed a
protest movement led by Ned Ludd.
 First person believed to have
destroyed industrial machinery.
Luddites

Formed “Army of
Redressers”.
◦ Broke into factories and
destroyed over 200 of
the machines that would
make their labour
redundant and threaten
their employment.
 First attacks occurred in
Notingham and the
movement of “Luddism”
spread across the textile
industry.
Luddites

The government responded by declaring
machine-breaking a capital offence;
punishable by death.
Improving Conditions for the
Working Class

Industrialization led to great change and
innovation in society, as well as a dramatic
increase in the gap between the people who
were rich and those who were poor.
◦ Many people viewed this as unfair.
◦ Many sought to improve the conditions of the
working class people.
Improving Conditions for the
Working Class

Eventually the
government intervened
and passed a number of
acts in the 19th century.
◦ Increase minimum wage
◦ Shortened working day
◦ Increased age of child
labourers
◦ Improve working
conditions
Improving Conditions for the
Working Class

Considering what you know about
classical liberalism…
◦ Why is this government intervention
significant?
◦ What does this tell you about how the
Industrial Revolution is changing?
Improving Conditions for the
Working Class

Factory Acts
◦ A series of laws passed by British Parliament
during the 1800s and early 1900s to make better
and fairer working conditions.
 The master of the factory must observe the law.
 All rooms are to be lime-washed twice a year and duly
ventilated.
 Every child is to be supplied with two suits of clothing.
 The hours of children are not to exceed 12 hours a day,
nor start before 6am and end after 9pm.
 Children are to be instructed in reading, writing and
math.
Improving Conditions for the
Working Class
As time passed in the 19th century, more
restrictions were put in place in terms of
working conditions and the extent to
which children were allowed to work.
 Although these acts are from the 1800s,
in what ways do they benefit your life
today?

Labour Unions

A group of people who try to improve the
working conditions and wages for either a
specific group of workers or an entire industry.
◦ Strength in numbers.
◦ Strikes or work stoppages.

During the 1800s and 1900s, some people
used labour unions to reduce the negative
impacts of laissez-faire capitalism.
Labour Unions
Can you think of any popular or well
known labour unions?
 What do you think the role of a labour
union is, in terms of the workers?
 Can labour unions have negative effects
on the greater society?

Labour Unions

Do you agree with the role of labour
unions?
Increasing Rights and Government
Intervention: The Welfare State

As time passed, the role of the
government became challenged by
different groups of people and it changed
in many different ways…
Increasing Rights and Government
Intervention: The Welfare State

A society in which the government plays a large
role in providing the needs of the citizens.
◦ In a welfare state, government provides many
services to the citizens at either a low cost or
for free.
 Healthcare, education, employment insurance, social
assistance, etc.)
Increasing Rights and Government
Intervention: The Welfare State

Consider what you now know about The
Welfare State…
◦ Which modern countries would be good
examples of countries that are Welfare States?
Evolution of Individual Rights and
Collective Rights
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, as a
result of citizen action and the
development of new legislation that
supported the improvement of workers’
living and working conditions, the
extension of rights for ALL citizens
became a political focus.
 What citizens do you suppose would be
without rights at this time?

Evolution of Individual Rights and
Collective Rights

Many people, such as
women and people with
certain ethnic
backgrounds, began to
question why their
political, economic and
social freedoms were
limited.
◦ They began to work
towards changing the laws.
Evolution of Individual Rights and
Collective Rights

Early Feminism
◦ During the time of the
Industrial Revolution
women had very limited
rights.
◦ But why the mid-1800s,
many men and women
believed that the ideas of
liberty and individual worth
should be extended to
include women.
Evolution of Individual Rights and
Collective Rights

The suffrage movement is
considered the first wave of
feminism.
◦ Feminism: the belief in social,
political and economic equality of
women.

The suffrage movement is
occurring at the end of the
1800’s and beginning of the
1900’s…
◦ Do you think women today have
equality with men in terms of
social, political an economics?
Evolution of Individual Rights and
Collective Rights

When we look back on
history we can often be
critical of the views and
opinions that people at the
time held. (ex. Slavery or
Women’s Inequality)
◦ With that in mind, what
inequalities do you think
exist today that future
generations might look back
upon us and be critical of?
From Classical to Modern

Considering labour unions,
the extension of voting
rights, creation of
government social
programs and the
recognition of women and
other groups…
◦ In what ways do you think
these things helped the
evolution of liberalism?
◦ If these are the changes that
are causing liberalism to
evolve, then what would a
modern liberalistic society
look like?