Video: Industrial Revolution on Urbanization | Social & Economic Changes

Social Changes

During the Industrial Revolution, people left their farms and went to the cities to apply for jobs in the factories. By 1850, most of the people in Britain lived in urban areas. These led to cities being overcrowded and dirty. Cities also had no proper waste disposal systems and this led to several disease outbreaks. Factory workers, including children, worked long hours--sometimes 12 to 16 hours a day--in unsafe conditions. Injuries were common, and no compensation was provided. Many children working in mines suffered health problems, such as lung disease.

Economic Changes

Factories introduced strict work schedules, replacing the flexible hours of farming. Owners of the factories decided to keep their machines running constantly. The conditions were not safe, especially in the coal mines, where workers worked in narrow tunnels. Trade unions were formed by workers to seek better treatment. These unions negotiated with employers and sometimes organized strikes to improve the condition of their work and to have a better salary.

Reform Movements

Reforms were introduced to address poor working and living conditions. Efforts focused on reducing child labor, improving safety, and cleaning up cities. Edwin Chadwick, a reformer, published a report in 1842 highlighting how bad sanitation caused many deaths. This led to the Public Health Act of 1848. Other laws, like the Factory Acts, limited children's working hours and required education for those aged nine to sixteen. The Coal Mines Act of 1842 banned women and young boys from working in mines, making workplaces safer for all.