THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION England Begin these notes on p. 77 in your spiral

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.

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. (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.

WORK HOUSES AND POORHOUSES People were sent to workhouses and poorhouses for minor crimes and/or not paying debts.

People were mistreated, overworked and underfed. They were cold and damp in winter. 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. REFORMIST WRITER – wrote about the bad things in English society so change would occur and improve life for the poor. Married and had 10 kids

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.Industrial Revolution

A Christmas Carol, along with several other Christmas books by Dickens, helped revive the holiday customs. Some people even started calling Dickens “The Man Who Discovered Christmas.”

 He was well known and liked as an author during his life time.  He raised money to help people in need by reading A Christmas Carol at charity events.  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