Legging was one of the most physically taxing and dangerous tasks throughout the Industrial Revolution. Legging was a phrase used to describe the practice of using legs to push canal boats through tunnels. An intense understanding of the canal system was necessary for this job, you needed a large amount of physical stamina and strength. This article will investigate why legging was such a physically and mentally difficult activity and its impact on society during the Industrial Revolution. Firstly, leggings require a lot of physical effort. The boats had to be manually pushed through the tunnels by leggers. A lot of upper body strength was necessary for this, as well as the capacity to hold your breath for a long time. It was challenging to …show more content…
Leggers had to use their understanding of the canal system to navigate because the tunnels were often completely dark. This needed a tremendous amount of quick thinking and mental toughness. This meant that leggers were at risk of being crushed or drowning if they lost control of the boat. Finally, leggers ran the risk of being buried alive because the tunnels were prone to collapsing. The Industrial Revolution was not possible without canal transportation, which made it possible to move goods across the country rapidly and effectively. Legging was a crucial feature of this system, as it allowed boats to traverse into tunnels that would have otherwise been impossible to pass through. Legging allowed the canal system to operate efficiently, this had a significant positive impact on the economy and society. The working class were the ones who typically worked as leggers. These men were frequently uneducated and from underprivileged backgrounds. These men had the chance to support their families and make a living by legging. Leggers found themselves unable to work for long stretches of time due to the physical demands and risks of the job. This put them in danger of not being able to support their