The Factory System in Great Britain

The introduction of steam power into Britain's factories dramatically increased the productivity of human labor thus ushering in a new era of cheap mass-produced goods. Mass production lowered the cost of many consumer goods such as textiles, tools, and household products making them affordable to many more people. However, the new factories with their steam-driven machines caused a great deal of dislocation for skilled artisans who saw their livelihoods replaced by less expensive and less-skilled women and children on the new production lines. In an era of little to no government regulation, working conditions in these factories soon caught the attention of social reformers and critics of industrialization. In 1832, a Parliamentary committee under the leadership of Michaell Sadler began investigations into the working conditions of Britain's factories. The result was the 1833 Factory Act which for the first time, regulated the working conditions for children. Advocates of the new industrial system were naturally critical of Sadler's commission and the 1833 Act. In response, Andrew Ure, a Scottish academic, published his Philosophy of Manufactures in 1835, a defense of steam power, the factory system and the employment of women and children to operate the new machinery. Read the two web sources provided: 1. Life of Nineteenth-Century Workers 2. The Philosophy of Manufactures - Andrew Ure How do Matthew Crabtree and the others explain the impact of the factory system on workers, especially children? How does Andrew Ure respond to these allegations and how does he justify the use of child labor? According to Ure, what is the ultimate goal of machine labor? How might the worker's react to Ure's assessments? Ure claims that the "constant aim and effect of scientific improvement in manufactures are philanthropic." How convincing do you find his argument? Explain your reasoning.