Although the “First” and “Second” Industrial Revolutions led to many important advances in technology and science, there were glaring unfortunate side effects, for example, exploitation of labor for the benefit of owners of industry. The problem was most extreme in England where children and women were commonly employed in mines and textile factories.

Module 01 – Case Assignment

Although the “First” and “Second” Industrial Revolutions led to many important advances in technology and science, there were glaring unfortunate side effects, for example, exploitation of labor for the benefit of owners of industry. The problem was most extreme in England where children and women were commonly employed in mines and textile factories.

Throughout the 19th Century, numerous Royal Commissions (similar to investigative committees of the U.S. Congress) were established by the House of Commons or the House of Lords to investigate labor conditions and propose legislation to protect the health and welfare of workers, particularly women and children. These investigations led to many changes in labor, health and welfare conditions common to most industrial nations in the late 20th Century.

Click on labor conditions to learn more about conditions in the factories and mines of England. After reviewing the several links discussing labor conditions and the use of child labor, write a two to three page paper answering the following questions:

1. Why was there such widespread use of children in the mines and factories?

2. What affect did investigations of child labor have on industry?

3. What labor reforms came out of these investigations?