Were factories really that bad?

1. Were factories really that bad? L/O – To judge how dangerous working conditions were for children in factories Starter – Why do you think factory owners liked to employ children to work in them?

2. Before Factories • Before the era of the factories, people tended to live in rural areas and work at home. • This might sound like a nice way of life now, but it wasn’t all that brilliant at the time.

3. Before Factories

4. Before Factories What do you think the conditions were like in these cottages? Often, most of a worker’s small cottage was given over to his working equipment.

5. The Factory System The Domestic System was pretty hard, but it could be said that the Factory System was even harder. Many factory ownerswere far more interested in the profits they made, than the welfare of the workers they employed. There were no rules about health and safety when factories were first built.

6. A typical industrial town

7. How did factory owners treat their workers? • In the first factories, owners could make their own rules and regulations. They wanted to make a profit so they took advantage of their workers. • They made them work long hours for little pay. Women and children were particularly badly treated. There were no laws to protect them from this.

8. Imagine standing at this machine for 13 hours a day!

11. How did factory owners treat their workers? • Mill owners were keen to employ children as they could pay them very little. • Children could also crawl under machines to clean them. Some worked with their parents. Others were orphans from the cities who had become apprentices. • Overlookers were employed to make sure children worked hard all day. They were paid according to the amount of work that the children did.

12. Child Labour – Good or Bad? Analyse the Sources on your hand-out to help fill in the table below:

13. Child Labour – Good or Bad? Analyse the Sources on your hand-out by answering the following questions for each source: • What is the source? Who is it written byand when was it written? • Does the source supportthe use of child workers or does itopposethe use of child workers?Why? • Whatwordsdoes the source use to describe factory conditions for child workers?

14. Child Labour – Can we be sure? Now answer the following questions to conclude your study: • Look at the authors of each source. Are there any sources that you don’t believeor that are biased? Why? • Can you be sure that the children were so badly treated in all factories? • What other kinds of evidencedo you need?

15. Campaign Posters • It is 1833. Parliament is to be asked to pass laws preventing factory owners from employing children. Some owners are claiming that this is not necessary. Decide which campaign you want to join: • The campaign to stop child labour • The campaign to support the factory owners’ right to employ children • Create a leaflet to persuade people to support your campaign. Include examples how children are treated from the Sources. • Start by explaining who the children were and from • Describe how child workers are treated in factories • Finish off with a strong statement to Parliament saying why you believethat child labour in factories should or should not be banned.

16. Factory Conditions Quiz