THE INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION
AND CHARLES
DICKENS
England
THE INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION
This was a time when mechanics
(industry) began to replace agriculture
as the main basis of the economy.
In other words, most of the country’s
economy (money) came from
mechanically produced items instead
of items grown on farms or produced
by hand.
The Industrial Revolution was a time of change in
Europe marked by:
• the introduction of power-driven machinery
• the growth of factories
• a huge increase in the production of goods
• a shift from a rural, agricultural society to a more
urban one
England changed from an agricultural society
to an industrial one.

Factories caused major air and water
pollution. They burned coal for fuel
source.
People moved
from the
countryside to
the cities to work
in the factories.
This created slum areas in the
cities where industry was located.
Children as young as
four worked in
the factories.
Many factories dealt with textiles where the
workers (including children) had to use huge
machines and looms.
Many children were injured or killed working in
factories. There was no worker’s compensation;
no welfare.
Factories were dangerous and the
work was hard.
THE VICTORIAN AGE
London was the largest city
in the world.
The era is
named for
Queen Victoria
of England.
Most people worked in factories 12 hours a day for
pennies (earning about $5 a week now). They lived in
terrible conditions.
It was a time when the rich became
richer and the poor became poorer.
-90% poor factory workers
-5% middle class craftsmen
and merchants
-5% rich factory owners and
land owners
• Sanitation was poor, so there was much disease.
• There was a ditch in the middle of the street
(open sewer) which ran to the river with the
waste.
There was no public education.
Only those who could pay went to school.
WO R K H O U S E S A N D
POORHOUSES
People were sent to
workhouses and poorhouses
for minor crimes and/or not
paying debts.
These were
terrible places
provided by the
government.
People were mistreated,
overworked and underfed.
They were cold and damp
in winter.
Workhouses were the same as prisons
Officials who ran the workhouses were often corrupt.
They ate gruel – a thin oatmeal flavored with grease.
Sometimes they got
some moldy cheese or
stale bread.
Entire families would go
to the workhouse/
poorhouse.
People could work off their debts by working each day to
reduce the amount they owed by a set amount (usually a few
cents a day). Orphans were sent to workhouses to pay for
their food and shelter.
49,000 children under 16 were in
workhouses during the 1800’s.
People who could not support themselves
could go to workhouses voluntarily, but
most would rather live on the streets.
CHARLES
DICKENS
-Born February 7, 1812 in
Portsmouth, England
-Died June 9, 1870 and
buried in Westminster Abbey
• Educated while his family could
afford it (not consistently).
• Age 12 went to work in a shoe
polish factory because his father was
in debtor’s prison.
• Wrote about what he saw and heard
in English society.
REFORMIST WRITER – wrote about the negative
aspects of English society so change would occur.
Worked to promote an improved life for the poor.
Pseudonym or pen name was BOZ.
Worked as a journalist.
Married and had 10 children.
As a young man, Charles Dickens
witnessed a decline in the
traditional celebration of
Christmas in England.
Because of the Industrial
Revolution, many employers
wouldn’t even give their
employees Christmas Day off.
He was well known and liked as
an author during his life time.
Many characters in his books were
real people from his life with
different names.
Scrooge’s story brought about other
changes too. For example, because of the
book:
• a home for disabled children was started
• a factory owner began
closing his factory every
Christmas and giving
turkeys to of all his
employees
OTHER WORKS
David Copperfield – the most autobiographical of his works
Oliver Twist – story of an orphan in a workhouse
Little Dorrit – a tale of the consequences of debt
 A Tale of Two Cities – about the French Revolution
A Christmas Carol - 1843