Poverty and the Industrial Revolution

by Brian Inglis

Poverty and the Industrial Revolution

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Economics

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely well researched book that could easily be a required text for a college course. While not an easy read in terms of keeping one’s attention, it did provide a list of gems worth further thought (see below). The main narrative of the book was the multi decade long review of the law making process in England as the country struggled with the effects of industrialization, and if/how this new production system should be regulated. Certainly, it is a continuing discussion 200 years later.
On a more positive note, at least we have (mostly) solved the issue of mass use of child labor of those earlier times. I can’t imagine what it was like to be under 10 years old and working those hours in a factory… and let’s be happy OSHA is around! While the UK and Europe like to jab at the U.S. about our past history of slavery (rightfully so), they don’t have much room to criticize after reading how pervasive their use of child labor was during this same time. Maybe the whole system was seriously flawed at that time. Need to think about this more but seems to be what I’ve learned.

- The poor, Defoe argued, did not really want to work. P19. PJK: many have the same accusations today when discussing welfare, etc.
- But the new prosperity was not filtering down through the community. P26. PJK: same concerns in today's world.
- The only worry, as expressed by the Edinburgh divine Robert Wallace, was that under a perfect government, ‘mankind would increase so prodigiously, that the earth would at last be overstocked, and become unable to support its numerous inhabitants’. P63.
- The effects of Hanway’s intervention on behalf of workhouse children were beginning to be felt. Hundreds more of them were surviving infancy every year. Here then, was a ready source of labour – and a very welcome one. P75. PJK: sad use of supply and demand.
- … they could not afford the goods which the machines produced…. Commerce has been tripled; and so have the parish paupers. P97.
- And the stockingers did not see why they should starve, while employers were allowed to make fortunes producing imitation stockings with the help of child labour. P99.
- It proposed to prohibit the employment in mills of children under ten years of age, and to limit the working day of children under the age of eighteen to twelve and a half hours, inclusive of two hours for lessons and meals. P123. PJK: very sad that this was even debated as acceptable.
- It followed that the poor must be given some ground for hope that if they did try to better themselves, they could improve their living standards… p236. PJK: this is what every politician strives for... to inspire hope in the voters (and in them). If they inspire no hope, they vote elsewhere.
- They saw, much as the opponents of the Prohibition laws in the United States began to see a century later, that not merely were the laws failing as a deterrent; they were creating a criminal network…. P244.
- Precautions, it was agreed, must be taken. But what precautions? As the experts could not agree on how the disease was transmitted, it was not easy to decide what to do. P268.

[Sidney Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent description of an important period

The benefits of the industrial revolution are well chronicled, but it's costs are not. This book shows how it debased the poor and why well intentioned attempts to correct problems failed.

My only real criticism would be the lack of material to provide a context or overview of conditions, laws and customs that would help the reader to obtain a more coherent picture of the period.

[Hans Rigelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

England in the 1800s

This was a difficult read for me. I was hoping to the connection between these difficult times and the famous author Charles Dickens, but was sadly disappointed. Only a few minor references were made. Anyway, the point I got was that political progress in the 1800s moved slowly, if at all, and the real heroes of the poor were few and weak.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed retelling of the legislative battles fought to enact government welfare in England specifically (not the UK per the author) during the Industrial Revolution, in particular affecting chimney sweeps, child factory workers, and weavers. However, the book actually focuses much more on political history than on poverty directly, and only on a specific country rather than across society more broadly. Therefore it is an educational read, but not recommended except for anyone interested in the specific topic of English political history on welfare law.

[Barry Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, thought provoking book. After reading, wondered why the poor of this country, didn't emulate the French in Revolution. As it is clear from the stance of the governments, through this time. That they were afraid that it would happen.
Didn't realize that children as young as 7, were made to sweep chimneys. By the unscrupulous master sweeps, who even made them go to sweep chimneys whilst still alight.
Made a subject learned about in school, so much clearer.