THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Reaction and Reforms

 

A large number of people were unhappy with the drastic change in lifestyle as well as the drastic shift in social class. People were used to being independent of working and having their own land and supplying themselves with their necessities. But with the city now over flowing with citizens, the conditions of the city worsened, increasing the slums. Families were forced to then their children to work, as they desperately needed money even though the pay was very little. Factories found it more profitable to hire children because they could adapt to a new method of working better than adults. They had smaller hands therefor allowing them to crawl and repair something in machines. The main goal of most of reforms was to make society and better place for the poor and the working class.

 

With the surprising sudden social and economical changes, The industrial revolution led the laissaz-fair which the government had done, which philosopher-economist Adam Smith had advocated and introduced capitalism. There were three Reform Acts for rights during the industial revolution in 1832, 1867, and 1884.

 

The 1867 Reform Act extened the voting right for people in the lower class, including men. This doubled teh electors to both Britain and Whales.

 

The 1884 and the 1885 Redistibution Act once again tripled the electorate, now even the most agriculturals labourers to vote. now it became more of a right to vote rather than a privilege. Although woman were still not allowed to vote.