Andrew Ure Case Study

At the tail end of the Industrial revolution (1780-1850), Andrew Ure was one of few outright supporters of industrialization, and the surge of factories. In the late 18th century to the mid 19th century, Britain experienced an astonishing increase in production due to the increased use of power driven machines. These machines were naturally housed in factories and demanded a different type of labor from what was typical up until this point in time. Skilled workers were no longer commodities, and were seen as liabilities by many factory owners, since many machines seldom required finesse and, those proficient workers traditionally demanded higher wages than the alternative. Because of the Capitalist era Britain was in, factory-owners, being

Firstly, he points the obvious increased production, “It has been said, for example, that the steam-engine now drives the power-looms with such velocity as to urge on their attendant weavers at the same rapid pace; but that the hand-weaver, not being subjected to this restless agent, can throw his shuttle and move his treddles at his convenience.”(p.1) Leading right into his next point, explaining that although the production is greatly increased, labor is wholly decreased, leading to greater quality of life of

Physician James Kay-Shuttleworth offered many observations that contradicted the supposed grandeur the workers experienced because of the factories. “While the engine runs the people must work…men, women, and children yoked together with iron and steam…subject to a thousand sources of suffering…chained fast to the iron machine which knows no suffering and no weariness.” (The Factory Movement) He also spoke openly about the less-than-desirable air quality inside and directly outside the factories, the squalor of the places majority of the workers lived in, in close proximity to the factories, as well as the meals that workers ate due to their financial