Life in the 19th Century Factories Quiz

Working Conditions of Foreign Workers and Child Laborers

• Foreign workers in the early 19th century worked long hours
• Child laborers at the accommodation block had poor sleeping arrangements

Child Labor in Cotton Mills

• In the first 50 years of cotton mill production, approximately 50% of the workforce consisted of children
• Children were bound to serve their employer as indentured apprentices for a long period, usually until they reached the age of 21

Processing and Controls for Child Apprentices

• When a child arrived at the Apprentice House, they underwent certain checks and processes
• Mill owners determined the age of children from the workhouse by verifying their documentation or by physical examination

Consequences of Leaving Early

• If children tried to leave the accommodation block before the end of their contracts, they faced severe consequences, including punishment or even imprisonment

Purpose of Accommodation Block

• The purpose of child laborers living in the accommodation block at the cotton mill was to provide a steady supply of labor to the mill owners

Experience of the Industrial Revolution

• The experience of the Industrial Revolution varied greatly depending on an individual's social status; the wealthy benefited while the poor suffered

Motivations for Improvement

• One of the key motivations for wealthy mill owners to improve the lives of their employees was to increase productivity and reduce turnover rates