THE EXPERIENCES OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Child Experience;
Dear Diary,
Today was a tougher day then usual, being extremely cold weather with large amounts of wind and rain. Being one of the ‘climbing boys’ this makes our life a whole lot harder and the day seem so much longer. Being only 8 years old makes me tired really easily, and hungry after a short amount of time. It helps that I’m small though, making it easier to get in and out of the chimney, although breathing in the soot makes it a challenging task. Today I went to the grumpy old man’s house that refuses to let me leave until his chimney is absolutely spotless and shining. Horrible weather, end of the week, tired and hungry, I knew it would be a rough day. I got to the old mans house, and straight away he gave me clear instructions to make sure his chimney is shiny and cleaned to perfection. I gave him my word, and got straight to work, climbing up the thick brick chimney, and begin to brush the soot away. Straight away coughing and sputtering, I try to clean the chimney in the quickest way possible. Minutes pass, and the bad weather makes me feel quite sick, with my climbing cap which is for blocking my nose and mouth from the soot, not doing what it’s supposed to.
While I’m cleaning the dusty chimney my ankles being to ache from the amount of times that they have been previously twisted. While I ache and sweep, I dream of being able to have no injuries, a full stomach and a good nights rest, with a loving family to support me. Instead I sleep on the soot of the chimney I have cleaned out, begging for food or money, being an orphan with no help or love. I finish my job, and go to the grumpy old man for him to expect my work, and see if he is pleased. He pays me, with no thank you, which is pointless money, as it will be going to my master anyway. Another day has finished and I now have to go onto the dark streets begging to anyone possible, preparing myself to do it all again tomorrow.
Today was a tougher day then usual, being extremely cold weather with large amounts of wind and rain. Being one of the ‘climbing boys’ this makes our life a whole lot harder and the day seem so much longer. Being only 8 years old makes me tired really easily, and hungry after a short amount of time. It helps that I’m small though, making it easier to get in and out of the chimney, although breathing in the soot makes it a challenging task. Today I went to the grumpy old man’s house that refuses to let me leave until his chimney is absolutely spotless and shining. Horrible weather, end of the week, tired and hungry, I knew it would be a rough day. I got to the old mans house, and straight away he gave me clear instructions to make sure his chimney is shiny and cleaned to perfection. I gave him my word, and got straight to work, climbing up the thick brick chimney, and begin to brush the soot away. Straight away coughing and sputtering, I try to clean the chimney in the quickest way possible. Minutes pass, and the bad weather makes me feel quite sick, with my climbing cap which is for blocking my nose and mouth from the soot, not doing what it’s supposed to.
While I’m cleaning the dusty chimney my ankles being to ache from the amount of times that they have been previously twisted. While I ache and sweep, I dream of being able to have no injuries, a full stomach and a good nights rest, with a loving family to support me. Instead I sleep on the soot of the chimney I have cleaned out, begging for food or money, being an orphan with no help or love. I finish my job, and go to the grumpy old man for him to expect my work, and see if he is pleased. He pays me, with no thank you, which is pointless money, as it will be going to my master anyway. Another day has finished and I now have to go onto the dark streets begging to anyone possible, preparing myself to do it all again tomorrow.
Men & Women's experience;
For Men and women work and home life became sharply separated. Men earned money for their families. Women took care of the home and saw their economic role decline. While many factory workers were initially women, most of them were young women who would quit working when they married. Men and women suffered in harsh conditions. There were long working hours in factories that had machines that were unsafe. Sometimes a worker could lose their arm if they weren't careful. The workers also became sick because of the unsanitary conditions and the dust down in coal mines. Women were hired more often than men because they could be paid less and thought to work the machines better.
Gradually a middle class did emerge in industrial cities, mostly toward the end of the 19th century. Until then, there had been only two major classes in society: aristocrats born into their lives of wealth and privilege, and low-income commoners born in the working classes. However new urban industries gradually required more of what we call today “white collar” jobs, such as business people, shopkeepers, bank clerks, insurance agents, merchants, accountants, managers, doctors, lawyers, and teachers.
Gradually a middle class did emerge in industrial cities, mostly toward the end of the 19th century. Until then, there had been only two major classes in society: aristocrats born into their lives of wealth and privilege, and low-income commoners born in the working classes. However new urban industries gradually required more of what we call today “white collar” jobs, such as business people, shopkeepers, bank clerks, insurance agents, merchants, accountants, managers, doctors, lawyers, and teachers.