The Industrial Revolution, while a period of unprecedented technological advancement, cast a long shadow on the working class. Driven by profit, factory owners often disregarded worker safety, resulting in appallingly unsafe work conditions. Imagine factories filled with deafening machinery, lacking proper ventilation, and poorly lit – a recipe for disaster.
Workers, including children, faced long hours – often 12-16 hours a day – for meager wages that barely covered basic necessities. These low wages kept families trapped in poverty, forcing them to endure dangerous conditions to survive. Accidents were commonplace, leading to injuries, disabilities, and even death. The lack of worker protections and regulations meant employers bore little responsibility for these tragedies.
The exploitation of labor during the Industrial Revolution serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of unchecked industrial growth and the vital importance of worker rights and fair wages.
