Factory Reform

Causes

Key individuals

For example, Robert Owen, Lord Shaftesbury, Edwin Chadwick, Elizabeth Fry and Josephine Butler.

Reports

Reports started to be created which showed the working and living conditions. One example was a report by an MP called Michael Sadler. His report showed that factory children were being caught under machines and injured, and many were being mistreated by factory owners. Because of this, Sadler suggested that those under 18 years old should not be allowed to work more than 10 hours a day. This became known as the 10-hour movement

Development

New factories had made production more efficient, cheaper, quicker, and the machines were too big for people’s homes. Accidents were common, there were long working hours and children as young as six worked in factories.
Coal mines would employ the whole family. Men cut away coal from the coal seam, women carried the coal to the surface and children might push coal in carts or work as trappers (opening the doors for carts and providing ventilation).
Many people were against reform because of laissez-faire politics which meant that they believed that politics should not be involved in people’s personal lives. The belief was that the poor were there because of their own bad choices.

Consequences

Factory Act 1833

Applied to all textile mills except silk
No children under 9 could work in factories
9-13 years old could work up to 48 hours a week (no more than 9 hours a day)
13-18 years old – no more than 69 hours a week
Under 13 had to attend school for 2 hours a day
Four inspectors appointed to check that the act was enforced.

Mines Act 1842

Women and children under 10 were not to work underground.
No child under the age of 15 could be in charge of winding machines.

Significance

Short term

The success of New Lanark was not recreated elsewhere.
Reforms to the Poor Law led to more people going to the workhouse.
Four inspectors were insufficient to ensure thorough checks.

Long term

Change of working conditions for women and children in the mines (See Mines Act)
Change of working hours for children (See Factory Act)
New Lanark was a success.