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STANDARDS OF LIVING. Big historical debate = how did the Ind. Rev. affect the standard of living Standard of living involved wages, prices, consumption 1 st half of 19 th cent. -> widening gap between rich and poor Wages + prices 1780-1850 -> fluctuate widely
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STANDARDS OF LIVING • Big historical debate = how did the Ind. Rev. affect the standard of living • Standard of living involved wages, prices, consumption • 1st half of 19th cent. -> widening gap between rich and poor • Wages + prices 1780-1850 -> fluctuate widely • Middle class benefit most from early Ind. Rev. • After 1850 -> wages and standard of living improved for the workers
EFFORTS AT CHANGE – THE WORKERS • Workers form labor organizations to gain: • Better wages • Better working conditions
THE COMBINATION ACTS • Laws passed by Parliament in 1799-1800 = outlawed associations of workers • These laws failed to prevent creation of trade unions • New unions are organized – limited goals • In 1824 the Combination Acts are repealed • 1820-1830’s union movement focuses on creating national unions
ROBERT OWEN • Rich wealthy cotton entrepreneur • Social reformer • Cooperation is better than competition • Helps form the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union 1834 • GNCTU worked/planned strikes to demand 8 hour day • Effort failed GNCTU collapses
THE LUDDITES • Skilled craftspeople who attacked machines to stop industrialization • Machines were threatening their jobs and way of life • Totally failed to stop the rise of the machines
CHARTISM • 1st political movement of the working class • Wanted political democracy • THE PEOPLE’S CHARTER = national petition 1838 demnding a. universal male suffrage b. pay for Parliament c. annual sessions of Parliament 4. Petition was signed by millions 5. Petition was rejected by Parliament in 1839+1842 6. Chartism fades away after 1848 7. Chartism did not threaten the British govt./system
EFFORTS AT CHANGE – REFORMERS AND GOVERNMENT • Reform and improvements of conditions in the factory system led by non-working class • Document and report the problems • First reforms were child labor laws • THE FACTORY ACT OF 1833 • THE TEN HOURS ACT 1847 • THE MINES ACT 1842