The life of a 19th-century American industrial worker was far from easy. Even in good times wages were low, hours long and working conditions hazardous. Little of the wealth which the growth of the nation had generated went to its workers.
What were conditions and hours like for factory workers?
Unlike today, workers during the Industrial Revolution were expected to work long hours or they would lose their jobs. Many workers had to work 12 hour days, six days a week. They didn’t get time off or vacations. If they got sick or were injured on the job and missed work, they were often fired.
Why were working conditions so bad?
Poor workers were often housed in cramped, grossly inadequate quarters. Working conditions were difficult and exposed employees to many risks and dangers, including cramped work areas with poor ventilation, trauma from machinery, toxic exposures to heavy metals, dust, and solvents.
What was life like for workers in 1912?
1912 Workers’ rights At the start of the Industrial revolution, the average person worked in appalling conditions and had a strong want of power in the western world. Workers who lived in the countryside migrated to the city in search of jobs that often required manual labor or intense circuit work.
What was working conditions like in the Industrial Revolution?
Working Conditions. The workers only received a break for lunch and a break for dinner. Children were paid less than 10 cents an hour for fourteen hour days of work. They were used for simpler, unskilled jobs. Many children had physical deformities because of the lack of exercise and sunlight.
What was the working conditions for the railroad workers?
This was the only time they were able to eat during the day. When they did eat there was almost nothing of nutritional value in their food, which resulted in sickness from scurvy because there was a lack of nutrition while they were working. Also, for their hard work and long hours, none of them got a proper pay.
How did workers get the attention of the government in 1912?
The workers tried many things to get the attention of the government but were repeatedly unsuccessful. That was until a railway strike in 1911 and the miners strike in 1912 (both of which were highly successful with a handful of participants) meant that the government had to listen to the voice of the workers.
