The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on the Life and Health of the British People

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The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on the Life and Health of the British People

Trade and industry changed dramatically during the Victorian period.

The invention of new machines and the growth of factories affected the

working lives of many people.

The invention of steam power meant that many jobs could now be done by

machines and steam powered machines meant that more goods could be

made and much faster than before, when they were made by hand. When

manufacturers realised this, they put their machines into huge

factories so that all the work could be done in one place.

Coal was needed to help make steam to power the machines. Many

Victorian factories were built near coalmines to make it easier to get

the coal to the factory. The coal mining industry grew.

Many workers were needed to keep the new machines running in the

factories and more workers were needed to work in the coalmines.

Huge industrial towns grew around the factories as people moved to

factory areas to look for work. In 1800, 75000 people lived in

Manchester. By 1850, more than 300 000 people lived there. This made

more goods for sale at home and abroad.

The revolution had many impacts on Victorian life and many people

benefited from industrialization but many people did not.

For most people the Industrial Revolution was a good thing. Farm

workers now had machines to help them and owners of the new factories

and mills were making lots of money from the goods, made in their

factories, being exported and sold. New inventions such as the

telegraph and the typewriter created different kinds of jobs.

However, for many people, life was made much more difficult. Factory

workers had no rights and had to work long hours in dreadful

conditions for a very low pay. The new machines were often not very

safe and the workers' lives were at risk when they were running them.

Factory owners exploited their workers, especially women and children.

But people were desperate for work and those without jobs were not

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