Manchester
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Document 1
Issue: Destituteness
During the industrial revolution, people from the countryside went to live in Manchester lured by the hopes of earning a lot of money by working in the cotton mills. Because of the movement of the people from the rural areas to Manchester, the place became overly crowded. Robert Southey pointed out that although the mills made the city wealthy, it resulted to worse living conditions for many people. The working class had to endure living in cramped places. Diseases also became predominant as a result of the overcrowding and sanitary issues. Many died because of measles, smallpox, whooping cough and other illnesses.
Reaction:
At a time when mills offer the most number of jobs, people could not do much to change the system and the awful living conditions that they had to endure. They earn small wages in the mills while working for many hours. The cramped and dirty conditions had to be endured for the poor and landless had very limited skills that could be useful in other kind of work. There was, however, a group of people organized into a group Luddites who protested and sometimes sabotaged mills. They were against the industrialization because the machines took away jobs from many people.
Document 2
Issue: People were enjoying better lives.
In reaction to Southey’s declaration concerning the destitute state of Manchester’s working class, Member of Parliament Thomas B. Macaulay reacted by saying the opposite to what Southey observed. While it was true that the city became overcrowded and there were many diseases, it was also true that many people became better off in the long run.
Reaction:
Because it was true that factory conditions were unfavorable to its workers, there some who sought to better the lives of the workers and improve working conditions of the mills. One among the factory owners who made changes in the factories was Robert Owen, who rose to wealth from his humble beginnings. Having worked as a cotton mill worker at a young age, Owen knew the conditions at the mills. Because of his industry, Owen became a mill owner later in life and provided many opportunities for mill workers, like education for children and low-cost food for everyone.
Document 3
Issue: Lower food prices
The Corn Laws prohibited free trade in Britain. While it was enforced, the British producers could keep their high prices on goods, making it more difficult for the poor members of population to obtain food.
Reaction:
The people protested and went to the streets to show their discontent. They were in a dangerously bad spirit that could result to a civil disturbance if the Corn Laws were not repealed.
Document 4
Issue: Loss of vigor
The increase in Manchester’s wealth resulted to filth and loss of vigor among its people. But from this bleak picture were produced many things that contribute to the world’s civilized state. Manchester’s cotton did not only supply Britain but also the rest of the world.
Reaction:
Industrialization ushered in an era of people who were only concerned with their earning power that they forgot what it was to be enjoying the simple joys of life. Because of work and poor conditions experienced by the workers, the working class became disillusioned and tend to just live their lives from day to day.
Document 5
Issue: Decrease in Morality
With industrialization came the weakening of the moral resolve. Because many were employed, many entrepreneurial people thought of providing entertainments to ease the hardships of the working man. Liquor became plentiful and houses of pleasure abound.
Reaction:
The working class forgot about the joys of nature and turned instead to sensual pleasures. Many took to drinking, gambling, and sensual pleasures.
Document 6
Issue: Despicable working conditions in mills
As more and more people came to work in Manchester, cheap housing became a necessity. These lodging houses were so appalling because of the cramped spaces and unsanitary conditions. There were accounts that said that toilets were on a ratio of two to every two hundred people.
Reaction:
The rich mill owners and other affluent people in Manchester during this time cared little for the plight of the working class for so long as they weren’t affected by it.
Document 7
Issue: High mortality among mill workers
The industrialization of Manchester resulted to making the city wealthy. However, it did not necessarily improved the plight of the laborers and artisans. In fact, mortality increased due to diseases and unfavorable working conditions.
Reaction:
The working class could do very little concerning their situation. They were powerless, landless and without voice. They sometimes went to the streets to lodge protests but it took many years before their working conditions improved.
Document 8
Issue: Recognition of Manchester as a center for commerce and manufacturing
Manchester, despite the working conditions of its working class, has greatly contributed to the wealth of England. Because of this contribution, the royal charter was granted as recognition of its importance to the government and the world.
Reaction:
The granting of the royal charter gladdened, not only the hearts of the wealthy, but also of the working class because it would mean that the granting of lands, rights and privileges that could cascade down to the poor.
Document 9
Issue: Betterment of the working class’ conditions
The working class had finally been treated fairly after years of laboring in appalling conditions. The government had understood and remedied the problem by passing legislation favoring the working class.
Reaction
As a result of the Hours of Labor in Factories Act, and the royal charter granted to Manchester, the working class began to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They became well-fed, better clothed, and received higher wages, enabling them to live in better accommodations.
Works Cited
Bloy, Marjie. “The Corn Laws.” 11 October 2002. The Victorian Web. 6 August 2008 http://www.victorianweb.org/history/cornlaws1.html
Brown, Robert. “Industrial Manchester in the Nineteenth Century.” The University of North
Carolina at Pembroke. 6 August 2008
;http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/manchester_19c.html;
Charter. Answers.com. 6 August 2008 ;http://www.answers.com/topic/charter;
Engels, Friedrich, “The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844.” London: Swan
Sonnenschein ; Co., 1892. 45, 48-53.
Hopley, Claire. “Manchester: Queen of the North.” HistoryNet.com. 6 August 2008
;http://www.historynet.com/manchester-queen-of-the-north.htm/2;
Kreis, Steven. “The Origins of the Industrial Revolution in England.” 11 October 2006. The History Guide. 6 August 2008 ;http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture17a.html;
“Manchester.” 6 August 2008 ;http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ITmanchester.htm;
O’Brien, Joseph. “An Act to regulate the Labor of Children and Young Persons in the Mills and
Factories of the United Kingdom.” 6 August 2008
<http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~jobrien/reference/ob67.html>
Ryder, Martin. “Luddism.” University of Colorado at Denver School of Education. 6 August
2008 <http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/luddite.html>
