The Causes Of Industrialization In The 19th Century

When you think if the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution may fill your mind. From coal, steam, transportation, germs, chemicals, and communication, industrialization was on the rise. There were many mixed emotions concerning the industrialization of the 19th century. “Industrialization made many jobs more efficient, but it also eliminated some jobs.” (“Critique 1: No Jobs) For the wealthy, industrialization meant reduced labor costs and lower purchase prices. However, “Industrialization also meant that some craftspeople were replaced by machines.” (History.com) The job loss caused by industrialization led to riots and the Luddite Movement. Industrialization can be defined as “the process of converting to a socioeconomic order in which

(The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica) During the 19th century, industrialization brought an abundance of goods produced by machines in factories. For the high and middle class citizens, this new found technology was used to their advantage and improved their standards of life. However, for the working people and poor, it was quite the opposite. Factories and machines caused the workers to be placed in danger on a daily basis. If the workers hastened because of the danger, or did get hurt, they were easily replaced, but because of their lack of skills, they didn’t have much luck finding another job. Many individuals who were skilled in certain crafts were replaced by the machines in factories. Since they were no longer needed, they were met with struggles to stay afloat.

During the industrialization, a group of individuals who were weavers and some textile workers decided to take matters into their

A group of ladies known as the “match girls”, worked long hours, were paid very little, were punished by losing part of any wages made, and the working environment was very dangerous. (Coulsan) These women worked at the Bryant and May match making factory. They produced matches. The company used white phosphorus to make the matches. The fumes from the phosphorus were poisonous. It could cause a condition called “phossy jaw”. “It began with pain and swelling in the teeth and jaw, then foul-smelling pus formed. The jaw turned green and black as the bone rotted away and, without surgery, death could be the result.” (Coulsan) This condition could possibly take away young women from their domestic duties as well. Death could cause much distress in the family, and take away wages needed to support the