HOW DID THE INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION CHANGE LIFE IN
ENGLAND?
Working Conditions
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Industry created many new jobs
Factories were dirty, unsafe, and dangerous
Factory bosses exercised harsh discipline
Long-Term Effect: workers won higher wages,
shorter hours, better conditions
Living Conditions
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Cities lacked sanitary codes or building controls
Housing, water and social services were limited
Epidemics, such as cholera swept through the cities
Well-to-do lived in luxurious homes in the suburbs
Long-term Effect: housing, diet and clothing
improved
Social Classes
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Factory workers were overworked and underpaid
Lower middle class included overseers and skilled
workers
Upper middle class included factory owners and
merchants
Upper class (aristocracy) resented people in middle
class who were wealthier than they were.
Long-term Effect: standard of living generally rose
Benefits
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Creation of jobs
Contributed to wealth of England
Encouraged technological progress and invention
Increased production of goods [cheaper and massproduced]
Provided hope of a better life
Expanded educational opportunities
Long-term Effect: most people living in industrialized
countries can afford consumer goods; working
conditions improved; tax money allows gov’ts to provide
services to improve lives of city dwellers