The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on the Life and Health of the British People :: Free Essays

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on the Life and Health of the British People Trade and industry changed dramatically during the Victorian period. The invention of new machines and the growth of factories affected the working lives of many people. The invention of steam power meant that many jobs could now be done by machines and steam powered machines meant that more goods could be made and much faster than before, when they were made by hand. When manufacturers realised this, they put their machines into huge factories so that all the work could be done in one place. Coal was needed to help make steam to power the machines. Many Victorian factories were built near coalmines to make it easier to get the coal to the factory. The coal mining industry grew. Many workers were needed to keep the new machines running in the factories and more workers were needed to work in the coalmines. Huge industrial towns grew around the factories as people moved to factory areas to look for work. In 1800, 75000 people lived in Manchester. By 1850, more than 300 000 people lived there. This made more goods for sale at home and abroad. The revolution had many impacts on Victorian life and many people benefited from industrialization but many people did not. For most people the Industrial Revolution was a good thing. Farm workers now had machines to help them and owners of the new factories and mills were making lots of money from the goods, made in their factories, being exported and sold. New inventions such as the telegraph and the typewriter created different kinds of jobs. However, for many people, life was made much more difficult. Factory workers had no rights and had to work long hours in dreadful conditions for a very low pay. The new machines were often not very safe and the workers' lives were at risk when they were running them. Factory owners exploited their workers, especially women and children. But people were desperate for work and those without jobs were not