History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

History - Essay Example When industrialization came, machines replaced small weavers, farmers left their lands because of obtrusive laws, and many families had to work at factories and had to live in the cities. Life in the cities meant higher living expenses, working longer hours and extremely stretching of expenses. Wife and children had to work for eighteen hours and the only time family came together was to sleep. They had no choice but to live together in one housing unit with other families to save on costs. Thus life of family at the start of industrial revolution was unbearable because working families often lived in slum areas with unsanitary conditions. Children received little education, often sickly, and suffered stunted growth. Mortality rate was great with 50% of children dying before reaching age two. Another significant consequence was inequality in groups because women and children were paid less and were required to work more hours. Factory owners were happy to employ children because they could manipulate children easier than adults, often thru beatings. Children as young as eight years old were sent to textile manufacturing, coals and mines. Workers during this time were locked up in a system where they had no control. B. Discuss the relationship between the Industrial Revolution and the development of capitalism.