Social/Economic Conditions During the Industrial

Social/Economic Conditions During the Industrial Revolution in England

Some argue that the industrial revolution was significant because it helped the economy to grow, thus improving the wages of not only the rich but the middle class and poor also. Others maintain that the industrial revolution did nothing more than make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Three men weigh in on this topic: Edward Baines, Edwin Chadwick and Michael Sadler. Each has a very different depiction of this period in time with one depiction being more reliable than the others. Baines looks at both sides of the social impacts during this period and does an excellent job at presenting both sides. Chadwick appears was a part in the reform of the Poor Law so his views are biased and Sadler was also biased because he only presented testimony to bring to light the issues of the worker's side.

As mentioned, Baines gives us a clear picture of the socio-economic state of people during the industrial revolution. He was concerned with the physical as well as mental condition of those working in factories. He used the cotton industry as a reference point and describes succinctly the different jobs along with the level of physical and mental exertion required of the job. Baines makes it a point to note that unless people were wealthy during this time, they were expected to earn a living and earning this living usually involved physical labor. By his account, this physical labor, or namely work in the cotton factories was not as laborious and heinous as perceived by many. He says that many workers in this industry, although not wealthy, were still able to provide comfortable living standards for themselves and their families.

Baines' depiction of working in the cotton industry at this time is accurate because he lists the various job titles and gives an account of the physical labor involved with each job. He also briefly discusses the condition of the hand-loom weavers who apparently worked outside of the factories and by his admission, worked in less than favorable conditions. As he describes the details of each job, he lets the reader know that each has no or a very small amount of physical exertion attached to it. He even describes the working conditions of the children as not physically taxing as some imagined it would be. Baines stresses the point that those working in the cotton industry are not living in poverty and are able to eat very well every day.

The workers in the cotton industry that Baines discusses can more than likely be compared to what we consider the working middle class today. These are the people whose workings conditions are reasonably comfortable and although they may not have or be able to afford all of their wants, they can comfortably afford the necessities of life such as food, clothing and shelter. He makes it a point to note that with any job, there will be a small degree of issues and waiting on the perfect job could mean waiting on your next meal. Baines does an excellent job of presenting both sides of this issue.

Chadwick, on the other hand seems bent on presenting the deplorable sanitary conditions of factories during this time. He was active in the reform of the Poor Law, and thusly all of his attention is focused on the negative aspects of working conditions for the factory workers. His Commission's report is chock full of the adverse sanitary conditions of the laboring population of England during this time. There is no doubt that not all workers during this time worked in conditions that Baines described. The conditions that Chadwick describes were probably true for many, but he neglects to mention the condition of the workers that Baines describes. Baines at least looks at both sides of the coin whereas Chadwick only focuses on one side and neglects to mention that not all workers in all manufacturing industries had to endure the conditions he lists in his report. For this reason, he is not the most reliable source to use as a reference for learning about workers and their conditions during this time period.