Factory Reform and Working Conditions Flashcards

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What were working conditions like in early 19th-century factories?

Workers did very long hours in hot, noisy rooms, with dangerous machines and almost no safety rules.

Why did factory owners like to employ children?

They were cheap to pay, could fit into small spaces around machines, and many poor families needed their wages.

Who was Lord Shaftesbury and what did he campaign for?

Lord Shaftesbury was an MP who led campaigns to limit child labour and improve working conditions in factories and mines.

What was the role of Michael Sadler in factory reform?

Michael Sadler was an MP who in 1832 led a committee that collected workers stories about child labour, helping to convince Parliament that factory laws were needed.

Name two key rules in the 1833 Factory Act.

Children under 9 could not work in textile factories, and children aged 9 to 13 were limited to 9 hours work a day and had to attend some school.

Why was the 1833 Factory Act an important turning point?

It was the first major law where the government set limits on working hours and used factory inspectors to enforce the rules.

What new protections did the 1844 Factory Act bring?

It limited women to a 12-hour working day, cut hours for children aged 8 to 13, and ordered that dangerous machinery had to be fenced off.

What was the Ten Hours Movement?

It was a campaign by workers and reformers, including Lord Shaftesbury, to limit the factory working day to 10 hours.

What did the 1847 Factory Act, also called the Ten Hours Act, do?

It cut the working day in textile factories to 10 hours for women and young people aged 13 to 18.

How did factory inspectors help improve working conditions?

They visited factories, checked that owners obeyed the Factory Acts, and could punish factories that broke the law.

Why did some factory owners and politicians oppose factory reform?

They feared shorter hours and safety rules would cut profits, raise costs, and they believed the government should not interfere in business.

By the late 19th century, how had factory work changed because of reform?

Working hours for women and children were shorter, very young children were banned from factories, and safety rules made many workplaces less dangerous.

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