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John Majewski

The Industrial Revolution: Working Class Poverty or Prosperity?

July 1986 • Volume: 36 • Issue: 7 • Print This Post • 87 comments

John Majewski is an economics major at the University of Texas at Austin. He is currently serving as a summer intern with the Institute for Humane Studies. Following graduation in 1988, John hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in economics. This paper was awarded second prize, college division, in FEE’s Freedom Essay Contest,

How the industrial revolution raised the quality of life for workers and their families.

Since it began approximately two centuries ago, the industrial revolution has captured the minds of an endless number of historians and economists. An era of relatively laissez faire economics, the period between 1760-1850 is for many academics the key to unlocking the secrets of economic growth, technological change, and economic development. But, for defenders of the classical liberal tradition of free enterprise, the industrial revolution is important for more insidious reasons. Writers such as Dickens, Engels, and the Hammonds have made the terms industrial revolution and capitalism synonymous with degradation of the working class. Pessimistic interpretations of the industrial revolution have led to the popular acceptance of what R.M. Hartwell terms the “theory of immiseration”—a belief that unrestrained capitalism was making the rich richer and the poor poorer during the industrial revolution (Hartwell, 1974). For the general public, the horrors of the industrial revolution prove the horrors of capitalism.

But it is not only laymen who perceive the industrial revolution in terms of “dark, satanic mills.” A brief glance at almost any university history or English textbook reveals that most academics who do not specifically study the industrial revolution accept without reservation the view that capitalism led to a deterioration of living conditions for the working class. For example, a text commonly used in college British literature classes describes the industrial revolution in these terms:


For the great majority of the laboring class the results of the policy (of laissez faire) were inadequate wages, long hours of work under sordid conditions, and the large-scale employment of women and children for tasks which destroy body and soul. Reports from investigating committees on coal mines found male and female children ten or even five years of age harnessed to heavy coal-sledges which they dragged crawling on their hands and knees . . . (Norton Anthology, p. 3).

Such harsh interpretation of the industrial revolution has directly affected public policy. The industrial revolution has become a successful battle cry for detractors of capitalism. The specter of working class poverty and misery during the industrial revolution has been and still remains an important justification for government intervention into social and economic affairs. A vast amount of legislation, from minimum wage to antitrust laws, owes its existence to the anticapitalist mentality created by pessimistic views of the industrial revolution. As Nobel laureate F.A. Hayek pointedly argues, the industrial revolution portrayed by the pessimists is the “one supreme myth which more than any other has served to discredit the economic system to which we owe our modern day civilization” (Hayek, pp. 9-10).

This paper will attempt to show that the pessimistic interpretations, however popular, are unfounded. It will be argued that the quantitative (material) standard of living improved as real wages rose, while falling mortality rates indicate that the qualitative (sociological) standard of living also improved. Although there was considerable social and economic disruption throughout the revolution, this paper will try to show that these problems were caused by various government interventions, especially the Napoleonic Wars. Far from being a cause of misery and despair, this essay concludes, capitalism in the early nineteenth century improved the standard of living and set the stage for the modern comforts that we enjoy today.

An Increase in Real Wages

As noted above, the pessimistic case is widely accepted by both the general public and academia. However, it is fair to say that the majority of modern economic historians who study the industrial revolution believe that at least a slight increase in the material standard of living occurred. Since the introduction of reliable statistical evidence in Sir John Clapham’s An Economic History of Modern Britain in 1926, it has become increasingly obvious that real wages rose. The evidence is now so conclusive that one historian has confidently declared that “unless new errors are discovered, the debate over real wages in the early nineteenth century is over: the average worker was much better off in any decade from the 1830s on than any decade before 1820" (Williamson, p. 18).

The evidence vindicates such confidence. Although money wages remained stable, the prices of manufactured and agricultural goods plummeted as entrepreneurs struggled to deliver consumers low-priced goods and services (Hartwell, 1971, pp. 326-27). Although the extent of the increase in real wages is hotly debated, the most recent evidence suggests that blue-collar real wages doubled between 1810 and 1850 (Williamson, p. 18), McCloskey, although emphasizing a much longer period of time, also concludes that real wages increased significantly. He argues that real wages rose from an average of £11 per capita in 1780 to £28 per capita in 1860 (McCloskey, p. 108).

As one can imagine, the increase in real wages resulted in significant improvements in the standard of living. An excellent example is the changes in diet that occurred. Per capita consumption of meat, sugar, tea, beer, and eggs all increased. An even better indication of the rising affluence was the great increase of imported foods. Per capita consumption of foreign cocoa, cheese, coffee, rice, sugar, and tobacco increased. Meanwhile, meat, vegetables, and fruits, long considered luxuries, were by 1850 eaten regularly (Hartwell, 1971, pp. 328-29). in fact, the average weekly English diet of 1850—five ounces of butter, thirty ounces of meat, fifty-six ounces of potatoes, and sixteen ounces of fruits and vegetables—is quite similar to the English diet of today (Hartwell, 1971, p. 330).

Although such improvements obviously are important, they take on added significance when considering the large population increase that took place during the industrial revolution. Because of a fall in the death rate, the population of England and Wales rose 1.25 per cent per year between 1780 and 1860, an annual expansion that translates into an unprecedented threefold increase (McCloskey, pp. 105-108). Rising real wages (and consequent increases in food consumption) coupled with a rapidly rising population was a first in European history. The Malthusian trap of geometrically increasing populations outstripping arithmetically increasing food supplies had finally been broken. Whereas more people invariably resulted in less food per person throughout earlier European history, the industrial revolution provided more food per person. Breaking the bonds of Malthus is perhaps the crowning accomplishment of capitalism in general and the industrial revolution in particular.

Untenable Arguments

Considering the preponderance of evidence indicating substantial improvement in real wages, it is clear that the arguments of early pessimists, such as Engels, have become untenable. Clearly, the material standard of living did not plummet. With the advent of reliable statistical evidence supporting real wage increases, sophisticated pessimists began to emphasize the qualitative effects of industrialization. Openly admitting that the working class enjoyed higher wages, more food, and better clothing, these pessimists argue that the cost for such gains in material wealth was dear. They contend that the evils of child labor, sordid working conditions, increased pollution, and various other discomforts outweighed any progress due to increasing real wages. E.P. Thompson, in his influential book The Making of the English Working Class, succinctly summarizes this new pessimistic position, arguing that, “By 1840 most people were ‘better off’ than their forerunners, but they suffered and continued to suffer this slight improvement as a catastrophic experience” (Rude, p. 67-68).

The pessimistic quantitative versus qualitative position is open to considerable criticism. For example, many of the poor conditions cited by the pessimists existed well before the industrial revolution. Pre-industrial society was very static and often cruel—child labor, dirty living conditions, long working hours, and a host of other ills associated with nineteenth century capitalism were just as prevalent before the industrial revolution. Although by today’s standard conditions were indeed poor, they were no worse than living conditions before the revolution (Hartwell, 1971, pp. 339-341).

A second general problem with the new pessimistic position is that it fails to take into account the significant improvement in life expectancy that took place. The great population explosion that happened during the industrial revolution was fueled by a steep fall in death rates. Even in cities, where living conditions are said to have been the worst, mortality rates improved somewhat (McCloskey, pp. 105-106). Deteriorating living conditions and longer life spans are difficult positions to reconcile. Clearly, improving mortality rates indicate that the standard of living rose during the industrial revolution.

Besides the two general arguments outlined above, the qualitative pessimistic position can be refuted by a close look at its specific charges.

Technological unemployment and underemployment. It has been long held by many pessimists that the wage increases of the industrial revolution were eroded away by extremely high unemployment and underemployment rates caused by the introduction of labor-saving technology. Although there were some pockets of technological unemployment, the calculations of Williamson suggest that the unemployment rate was at most eight per cent per year, and was probably far lower (Williamson, p. 22). Furthermore, the stable money wages between 1820 and 1850 indicate that there was little competition from unemployed workers that would have lowered wages (Hartwell, 1971, pp. 318-319). As for underemployment, the tremendous shift from agriculture, which provided only seasonal employment, to the more stable manufacturing sector, led to decreasing underemployment (Hartwell 1971, p. 323).

Pollution and Urban Conditions. Another popular argument of the pessimists is that the real wage increases were merely “bribes” to workers forced to endure polluted and unsanitary urban conditions. According to this line of reasoning, the gain in real wages was simply a means of luring workers to the horrid working conditions of the cities, and did not constitute a net gain in wealth. Although it is certainly true that urban conditions during the industrial revolution were appalling, the aforementioned improvement in mortality rates indicates that conditions were not bad enough to grievously affect the health of the city dwellers. Secondly, the workers voluntarily moved into urban areas, suggesting that the “opportunity cost” of pollution and various other urban discomforts did not outweigh the gains in real wages.

Child Labor. Another qualitative argument brought forth by the pessimists is that children were forced to endure long hours of work in unhealthy conditions. Although the existence of child labor cannot be denied, it is clear that most pessimists have overstated both its magnitude and the effects on the health of the children involved. In fact, much of the evidence for the pessimist’s case comes from the very famous, yet very inaccurate, reports from the government committees investigating the factory system. Almost all of the “condition of England” novels by Dickens, as well as the works of Engels and the Hammonds, have been in large part based on these committee reports (Jefferson, p. 189). Politically motivated and seriously defective, the evidence in these reports is marred by the fact that the doctors who testified against child labor in the factories had not even been in a factory and refused to testify under oath (Hutt, pp. 161-167). Moreover, the great improvement in mortality rates seems to indicate that either child labor was not extensive as before or was less harmful. Indeed, it was the great improvement in productivity instigated by the industrial revolution that has enabled Western societies to banish child labor.

Capitalism and “the spirit of the age.” Perhaps the most common yet most difficult to define charge made against capitalism and the industrial revolution is that the working class was filled with “spiritual” loss. According to this argument, rural farm workers were torn from their roots and thrust into the industrial towns and cities, thus losing sense of their heritage and individualism. However, the very fact that workers moved voluntarily from rural to urban areas once again suggests that the advantages of more material wealth outweighed the “opportunity cost” incurred from the move. Moreover, many friendly societies, workers’ societies, and voluntary organizations developed during this time, throwing the whole notion of “isolation of the individual” into dispute (Ashton, p. 137).

Any sociological costs endured during the industrial revolution must he counterbalanced against the many sociological benefits. For the first time, there was a sense of hope and optimism. The industrial revolution spawned the attitude that progress could be made and problems could be solved. Perhaps it is worth quoting Hartwell at length on this point:

The new attitude to social problems that emerged with the industrial revolution was that ills should be identified, examined, analyzed, publicized, and remedied, either by voluntary or legislative action. Thus evils that had long existed—child labor, for instance—and had long been accepted as inevitable, were re garded as new ills to be remedied rather than old ills to be endured (Hartwell, 1971, p. 343).

Government Intervenes

As the above analysis demonstrates, the industrial revolution resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of life for the working class. However, progress was slow, uneven, and sometimes nonexistent during many periods. For example, in the early stages of the revolution growth was minimal, resulting in little or no improvement for the working class (Williamson, p. 162). Is capitalism to blame for this slow rate of progress? To the contrary, it was the many forms of government intervention, not capitalism, which slowed British economic growth during the industrial revolution.

Perhaps the most important of these many interventions that hindered progress was the long period of intense war during the early years of the revolution. From 1760 to 1815, Britain was constantly engaged in war, either against France or the American Colonies. In fact, between 1780 and 1810, England was in the midst of a massive military build-up that was unmatched until World War I (Williamson, p. 163). Early commentators were quick to recognize the debilitating effects of this military build-up on the English economy. The historian J.E. Thorold Rogers, for instance, observed that the cost of the Napoleonic Wars was high indeed:

Thousands of homes were starved in order to find the means for the great war . . . the resources on which the struggle was based, and without which it would have speedily collapsed, were the stint and starvation of labor, the overtaxed and underfed toils of childhood, and the underpayed and uncertain unemployment of men (Rogers, 1891, quoted in Hartwell, 1971, p. 326).

Modern statistical evidence and economic theory lends support to such observations. Government war spending and borrowing increased interest rates, thus “crowding out” private investors who desperately needed capital to construct new factories, build better canals, and design new inventions. Growth was present during the war, but it was excruciatingly small. In the long run, this meant fewer jobs and lower wages for the working class.

But, for the common man, the war had more painful and immediate consequences than slowing the rate of economic growth. Various government schemes to finance the war debt led to monetary instability and uncertainty. This monetary instability, coupled with severe harvest failures, led to rapidly increasing food prices throughout the Napoleonic Wars (Redford, pp. 89-93). In fact, food prices soared upward by more than twenty- five per cent (Williamson, p. 187). Considering that the British working class then only earned on the average little more than £11 per year, it is no wonder how these developments led to hardships and deprivation that invariably resulted in social unrest.

Although decidedly the most important, war was not the only form of government intervention that decreased the quality of life. Government monopolies, such as the East India Company and Cutler’s Company, served to lessen economic efficiency and growth. The entire area of foreign commerce and trade was forced to contend with massive government regulation (Ashton, pp. 138-39).

Notwithstanding the popularity of pessimistic interpretations, the evidence of increasing real incomes and improving mortality rates indicates that significant improvement took place in the standard of living of the working class. These factors and other evidence also suggest that most qualitative aspects of the quality of life at least remained stable, and probably improved. This progress took place despite constant warfare and other counterproductive forms of government intervention that significantly hindered improvement.

While these immediate effects should not be overlooked, the real benefits of the industrial revolution are enjoyed by those living in today’s world of comparative luxury and splendor. The industrial revolution was the “great discontinuity” that built the foundations for our modern society (Hartwell, 1971). It has led us into an age without the famines, epidemics, and other disasters that continually plagued preindustrial societies. Perhaps the only way to fully appreciate the impact of the industrial revolution is to look at those in the modern world who have yet to undergo industrialization. The fate of the hungry and disease-ridden peasants in such areas as Africa and India is perhaps the most forceful and convincing argument in favor of capitalism’s industrial revolution. []

Ashton, T.S,. The Industrial Revolution 17601830 (London: Methuen and Co., 1957).

Hartwell, R.M.,”Capitalism and the Historians,” Essays on Hayek (New York: New York University Press, 1976).

Hartwell, R.M., “History and Ideology,” Modern Age, Vol. 18, No- 4. Fall, 1974.

Hartwell, R.M., The Industrial Revolution and Economic Growth (London: Methuen and Co.. 1971).

Hayek, F.A., Capitalism and the Historians (London, Routledge and Kegan Paul. 1954).

Hurt. W.H., “The Factory System of the Early Nineteenth Century,” Capitalism and the Historians F.A. Hayek. editor. (London: Rout-ledge and Kegan Paul, 1954).

Jefferson, J.M., “Industrialization and Poverty: in Fact and Fiction,” The Long Debate on Poverty (London: Institute of Economic Affairs, 1972).

McCloskey, Donald, “The Industrial Revolution 1780-1860: A Survey.” The Economic History of Britain Since 1700 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981).

North, Douglass. Structure and Change in Economic History (New York: Norton, 1981). The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 2 (London: Norton and Co., 1979).

Redford, Arthur. The Economic History of England (1760-1860) (London: Longmans, Green, and Co.. 1931).

Rude, George. Debate on Europe 1815-1850 (New York: Harper and Row, 1972).

Williamson, Jeffrey, Did British Capitalism Breed Inequality? (Boston: Allen and Unwin, 1985).

There Are 87 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Lynn Atherton-Bloxham on 21 October 2009:

    Excellent. Packed a lot of good infomation into one paper.

  2. Comment by thomas k on 22 October 2009:

    ewwwwwwww

  3. Comment by thomas k on 22 October 2009:

    not helpful 2 longgggggg

  4. Comment by mannoclay on 10 January 2010:

    And the holocaust never happened either. The only reason the working class prospered was that they fought to the death for their right to a share of the wealth created by mass production. Henry Ford sent the Pinkertons to murder workers who protested at his factories. Four labor leaders were hanged for allegedly throwing a bomb during what was a peaceful demonstration, until the police moved in and started bashing heads. It was called the Hay Market incident and the protesters were simply advocating an eight hour work day.

    You mention Government intervention as War. Who financed those wars? Oh my God, it was the same heroic Capitalist class that you are so enamored of. You fail to mention that the only reason the working class prospered is that they were successful, after much bloodshed on their part, to have legislation enacted to prevent child labor, insufficient wages and all the other ills of the Industrial Revolution.

    But there is another strictly economic factor here. As the machines became more complex, and the potential for quantum leaps in production were realized by the ruling class, they also realized that they would need a more educated working class to produce astronomical levels of wealth and power. Wars were to be used as a diversion and to keep the lower classes in line. Peace and limited prosperity allowed for ever more increases in productivity. Yes, we have always received the crumbs from the table. As the feast became ever more bountiful, our crumbs were bigger and better. But now the ruling class is in the process of taking it all back.

  5. Comment by Arnaldo on 27 January 2010:

    It’s an excellent piece of work. As for Thomas K’s reply I would say,
    1) You mention Henry Ford, but as all statists you make the same mistake confusing civil rights with economic development and its causes. Won’t you assert that libertarians believe that workers shouldn’t be allowed to make their voices heard???

    2) Who financed those wars? It doesn’t matter!!!! Who decided to go on wars?? Are you going to blame the man who sells you alcohol for your being a drunkard?

    3) As for legislation, you (as all collectivist people) should get used to the idea that legislation usually make things worse. Child labour and the like would have been reduced all the same if governments hadn’t interfered. A bigger productivity and a self-organized work-force would have achieved that goal.

    4) The astronomical levels of wealth you refer to are the result of a free enterprise system. With socialism you only get astronomical levels of misery. Nowadays, the crumbs are bigger than ever before.

  6. Pingback by North and South on 16 February 2010:

    [...] • The Industrial Revolution: Working Class Poverty or Prosperity? and [...]

  7. Comment by lily on 28 February 2010:

    way too long and complex! Good try though

  8. Comment by Zambai on 1 March 2010:

    Thanks for this breath of fresh air. I have long been skeptical of “historians’” opinions on the Industrial Revolution. I wonder if enough momentum will ever exist to rewrite this portion of history in a more balanced light.

    Capitalism, with all its faults, deserves a fair judgement.

  9. Pingback by Living Standards « Kellyleveille's Blog on 10 March 2010:

    [...] In the Industrial Revolution the poverty was so big some kids even had to get a job and because of this they would get horrible side effects like health problems.  The only thing on peoples mind was making money and not health issues or safety.  There were no sanitary codes like in China and sickness was also widespread.  The drains didn’t really exist and workers had to like in dark dirty shelters.  In China some people have to live outside in small homes with no electricity because they don’t have money.  With small wages people were forced to work extra long hours like 14 hours a day and 6 days per week with no breaks and really dangerous conditions.  In China most people don’t even care if the job is safe or not anymore because all they are thinking of is how they are going to eat. [...]

  10. Comment by Anonymous on 22 July 2010:

    Capitalism will work at it’s finest for all when we can take out the GREED.

  11. Comment by Jeremy Thwaites on 6 August 2010:

    so long no help at all

  12. Comment by corrina on 27 August 2010:

    that wasn’t much help
    just repeting what I allredy know

  13. Comment by unknown on 12 September 2010:

    No help at all to LONG!

  14. Comment by *~*Franchesca*~* on 13 September 2010:

    Thanx for all of the help you provided!(sarcastically…) seriously? the article was too long but thanx for the effort!

  15. Comment by lvreugde on 24 September 2010:

    Excellent

  16. Comment by jenny on 9 November 2010:

    i would like to know what are the positive and negative things about the working class in the Indusrtial Revoluion?

  17. Comment by Brian on 11 December 2010:

    how do i a annotated bibliography for this website

  18. Comment by asana on 13 December 2010:

    are there any people who were neutral on the whole child labor laws thing. Like were there people that wanted it but under certain circumstances??

  19. Comment by Adam on 3 January 2011:

    SCHOOL SUCKES DICK

  20. Comment by great job on 6 January 2011:

    really good article all the people who say it is too long why dont you go get an education so that you can read a little faster… or learn how to skim and pick out the important information. As for everyone who is arguing, this is a paper on how the common man benefited from the industrial revolution, not how the common man’s life did not get worse

  21. Comment by Mike on 24 February 2011:

    I beileve the article to be informative, however it was not helpful for the specific type of info. that i was looking for. Oh, and yes there were large corporations that had a pro child labor attitude during the time. They were cheap, expendable and most importantly, renewable. At any rate, as far as the argument on capitalism, free enterprise so on and so forth; a fun FACT to think about is this. There are only 3 and i repeat 3 corporations in the WORLD that control all of the food distributed. Do you beileve this to be beneficial? Cmon

  22. Comment by historyyy on 27 February 2011:

    Awesome paper, but it doesn’t have the information i am looking for….

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  36. Comment by C U N T on 9 May 2011:

    what is up with all these HYNAS writing all up on this shit, wtf get out bishes.

  37. Comment by easthamgirl on 24 May 2011:

    If you’re working class poor; young; elderly; sick; disabled, or on Benefits, in the UK, your best hope is that historians look objectively at the contemporary evidence and contemporary observations of the agrarian/industrial revolution, and don’t try to tweak, lampoon or deny its detrimental effects. Our Welfare State is being destroyed because of Capitalism; we have comparable levels of pollution, ill health and poverty and ignorance nowawadays which take less obvious but just as dramatic forms. For me, the only good things that came of the Industrial Revolution were collective action and welfare/education reform.

  38. Comment by Ned Ludd on 30 July 2011:

    It is sad that some modern authors are busy revising the experiences of the Working poor during the Industrial Revolution. My great great great grandfather was originally a domestic clothier that opened a small mill producing fancy worsteds for the carriage trade, and was right at the heart of the Revolution, since he belonged to Deighton in Huddersfield in the County of York, which the scene of the 1812 West Riding Luddite insurrection that included the attack on Rawfolds Mill and the murder of clothier William Horsfall.

    I have no objection to outsiders surveying the region, its peoples, its industry, its economy,and its critical social history. But when they do so with a view solely to negate and deny the crippling impact on the lives of the unenfranchised working class that was deemed treasonable and liable to be hanged if they asked for improved conditions or higher wages during the time they were starving to death by wages that did not reach a level where a family could feed itself, then I must take up ‘Big Enoch’ again to attack these foolish notions and again raise the voice of a much maligned people that had no voice, no vote, no redress, and no standing at law.

    Capitalism has its defenders, but when its impact on the lives of the working poor was of the nature of their miserable existence during the Industrial Revolution in which more troops were massed between Lancashire and Yorkshire – 200,000 – than were fighting Napoleon in the Peninsula, then revisionists must look to their credibility as being under a scrutiny that will not let it pass.

    There are sufficient voices, all dead, who tell of their experiences at the hands of clothiers, mill owners, savage Baillies, magistrates, and the soldiery. There are sufficient names on the rolls of those flogged – 500 lashes for Militiamen that refused to fire on their countrymen at Ely; 100 lashed for one that refused to fire on those that could be his kinfolk at Liversedge, men, women, and children – yes, children! – hanged to make examples of them in an age, much like this, where property was held more dear and sacred than was human life.

    Many were imprisoned, some for years without charge being brought, and others imprisoned in the hulks or sent to the Australian penal colony.

    These punishments were inflicted because they dared speak out against injustice, penury, the insouciance of the government, and its princes and politicians.

    I am writing an historical novel – A Yorkshire Carol – based on the recorded events of the Huddersfield 1811-1812 Luddite uprising, in which the victims finally have their voices heard, in spite of the trend to minimise their sufferings by pointing to the cruel and unusual cultural norms that held sway in a nation vaunted for being a cradle of Christianity, but that signally failed in root and branch to protect those to whom Jesus extended his blessings and protection.

    This is the second essay it has been my misfortune to read today in which the writers, Freemen and Capitalists, claim that those days weren’t so bad, and that ‘pessimism’ is the cause of making it appear so.

    I direct these cynics to the works of Cobbett, Place, and Paine, et al, who were present during this time, and also outspokenly vocal, often at great cost to themselves. Men of intelligence do not seek years of imprisonment nor court charges of High Treason by pretending that conditions exist that have no grounds in reality.

    I am of the people of this period, these conditions, and these experiences, and much of its superstructure was still visible in the year of my birth, 1935, and for a half century more, but not before the histories were set down for later eyes and minds to ponder.

    If we exclude the testimony of European Jews, and people of the occupied nations of Europe when we are estimating the impact on the world of Adolf Hitler, we find that he wasn’t such a bad fellow after all, and that he gave to world a popular car, the Folks-Vaggon, and he made the railways run on time.

    A similar view, and one of equal value, is obtained of the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the lives of the poorest during its first 100 years.

    If it gives comfort to revisionists and the inhumane, let that bring them what cheer it will. But they must not expect sensible people to buy into their delusion.

    Ronnie Bray – Yorkshireman

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  43. Comment by fred bob on 11 September 2011:

    hello, help me!!!!

  44. Comment by dalton on 11 September 2011:

    i love fat dick

  45. Comment by fred bob on 11 September 2011:

    HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!! yeaah dolly, :L

  46. Comment by dalton on 11 September 2011:

    i loove bum hole to the face

  47. Comment by dalton on 11 September 2011:

    im gaaaayyy

  48. Comment by vtrgbvtgbr on 25 September 2011:

    not helpfull

  49. Comment by Siddhartha on 13 October 2011:

    Most of the communities in the entire Indian sub-continent(such as Bengali) succumbed in ‘Culture of Poverty’(Oscar Lewis), irrespective of cl-ass or economic strata, lives in pavement or apartment. Nobody is genuinely regret ed or ashamed of the deep-rooted corruption, decaying general quality of life, worst Politico-administrative system, bad work place, weak mother language, continuous consumption of common social space (mental as well as physical, both). We are becoming fathers & mothers only by self-procreation, mindlessly & blindfold(supported by some lame excuses). Simply depriving their(the children) fundamental rights of a decent, caring society, fearless & dignified living. Do not ever look for any other positive alternative behaviour(values) to perform human way of parenthood, i.e. deliberately co-parenting children those are born out of ignorance, extreme poverty. It seems that all of us are being driven only by the very animal instinct. If the Bengali people ever be able to bring that genuine freedom (from vicious cycle of ‘poverty’) in their own life/attitude, involve themselves in ‘Production of (social) Space’ (Henri Lefebvre), initiate a movement by heart, an intense attachment with the society at large is very much required – one different pathway has to create, decent & rich Politics will definitely come up. – Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, 16/4, Girish Banerjee Lane, Howrah-711101, India.

  50. Comment by kla on 9 November 2011:

    i have to poop. i like cabbage. and i love to read books about gay people. i want some eyelashes. lets go to la la land and smoke some crack and shoot up.

  51. Comment by hannah on 9 November 2011:

    haha thesee niiqquhs aree Fuckkin stuppid!!

  52. Comment by claytondeborah on 10 November 2011:

    None of these answers help me I need a real answer……….

  53. Comment by claytondeborah on 10 November 2011:

    :) never mind u people r just putting out stupid answers

  54. Comment by claytondeborah on 10 November 2011:

    :D :( :)

  55. Comment by kla on 15 November 2011:

    it is fun to be stupid! i want subway!

  56. Comment by piusmligo on 20 November 2011:

    help me this question”what are the social issues during industrial revolution”

  57. Comment by Anonymous on 27 November 2011:

    This was kinda boring you needed to answer my question gosh “”What did the people during the Second Industrial Revolution think about it”" ANSWER IT!!!!!!

  58. Comment by Casey on 2 December 2011:

    People posting comments that do not relate to the article take away from it.

  59. Comment by ur mom on 5 December 2011:

    all yall niggaz iz gayy

  60. Comment by michelley elly ely on 7 December 2011:

    I Love Ki-mee!

  61. Comment by Ki-mee! on 7 December 2011:

    I L <3 V E Michelley Elly Elly ! She's The Best ( ; Back Off Bitchesssss :p Lmaoo

  62. Comment by michelley elly ely on 7 December 2011:

    So im sitting up in crosswalk bored a’f
    its a ghetto school but i getta graduate this year so im happy(:
    anyways im off to read what kimee wrote(:

  63. Comment by michelley elly ely on 7 December 2011:

    Ahaha I Love You! Whatcha Doin?

  64. Comment by Ki-mee! on 7 December 2011:

    Nothing Much , Just Sitting Right Next To You -.- lol What Are Yoouuuu Doing ‘?

  65. Comment by michelley elly ely on 7 December 2011:

    Aha I See You :D
    Im trynna work on this power point, its pointless -_-
    i have vvc tonight and im so effin tired.! <//3

  66. Comment by Ki-mee! on 7 December 2011:

    Shut Your Efiin’ Face Uncle Effer’ . Your The One Who Effed My Uncle , Uncle Effer ! If You Dont Like It You Can Suck On My Balls >.<

  67. Comment by Ki-mee! on 7 December 2011:

    ;O Are There Old People In That Class ? o.o

  68. Comment by michelley elly ely on 7 December 2011:

    Ahaha YES!!
    There’s one 21 year old and two 24′s
    Then The rest Are As Old As My Dead Grandma -_-

  69. Comment by Ki-mee! on 7 December 2011:

    Lmaoo , Godddd Damnnnn >.< Sooo , What Cha Doin This Weekend ?

  70. Comment by michelley elly ely on 7 December 2011:

    Uhh I Have No Idea, Probably Trynna Catch Up In Mr.Dales
    I Have A D :/
    What Time Do We Go Back To Class.?

  71. Comment by Ki-mee! on 7 December 2011:

    11:45 ? But Im Passing P.O.D Now :D Stop Looking When Im Typing ! It Supposed To Be A Secret -__-

  72. Comment by michelley elly ely on 7 December 2011:

    Mee Too But Im Failing U.S
    Im Sorry.! Is that Sanya Singing Or The Teacher 0.0

  73. Comment by Ki-mee! on 7 December 2011:

    o.0 Well , Sanya’s Not In Here Right Now So I Think Your On Crack ! ^.^ But I Think Its Time To Go !!! Ready ?

  74. Comment by michelley elly ely on 7 December 2011:

    Ahaha Yes
    Bye Bye WebSite Ill Never Use Again!
    Text Me <3

  75. Comment by Ki-mee! on 7 December 2011:

    Toodles :*

  76. Comment by Joe Schmoe on 9 December 2011:

    I really hate it when the elementary school kids google an article on The Freeman for some school assignment and start commenting on it…

  77. Pingback by Second Industrial Revolution | Making History Relevant on 10 December 2011:

    [...] As one can imagine, the increase in real wages resulted in significant improvements in the standard of living. An excellent example is the changes in diet that occurred. Per capita consumption of meat, sugar, tea, beer, eggs, cocoa, cheese, coffee, rice, sugar, and tobacco  all increased. Meanwhile, meat, vegetables, and fruits, long considered luxuries, were by 1850 eaten regularly. In fact, the average weekly English diet of 1850 (butter, meat, potatoes, fruits and vegetables)—is quite similar to the English diet of today. (more from) [...]

  78. Comment by Ki-mee! on 12 December 2011:

    Sup Michelle (;

  79. Comment by michelley elly ely on 12 December 2011:

    I Hate Those Damn Elementry Kids -_-

  80. Comment by michelley elly ely on 12 December 2011:

    Ohh Aha Hey(:

  81. Comment by Ki-mee! on 12 December 2011:

    ^.^ Joe Says Im In Elemetry School Because I Commented But I Could Have Swore Im In High School . How You Like Them Apples :p Lmaoo, Annyywaayyssss . How Was Your Weekend Michelle ( :

  82. Comment by michelley elly ely on 12 December 2011:

    Ahaha Didnt He Read How I Was Graduating This Year,
    Idiot -_-
    It Was Good, Busy.
    Yourss.?

  83. Comment by Ki-mee! on 12 December 2011:

    lol Really Fun :D I Worked Out ( ; Just like ‘LMFAO’ Get It ? Aha , What Are You Going To Do For Break ?

  84. Comment by michelley elly ely on 12 December 2011:

    Ahah Nicee <3
    Mmm Going Downn To HollyWood To Visit My Dad,
    You.?

  85. Comment by Ki-mee! on 12 December 2011:

    Coolie O’ . Going To Go Visit My Daddy Too ^.^ But Jamarie Is A Creeepppp ! lol

  86. Comment by michelley elly ely on 12 December 2011:

    Aha I Know It Was Silent And All You Hear Is..
    “Damn Michelle You Sexy.!”
    Freakin Awkward!!!!!!!!!

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