Industrial Revolution Essay

The Industrial Revolution, which was an increase in production brought about by the use of machines, had a beneficial impact only on a small minority of the people of Great Britain, for the majority it was unfavourable. For the larger part of Great Britain the Industrial Revolution brought about appalling living conditions along with horrendous working conditions. The bourgeoisie greatly profited from the Industrial Revolution due to the significant technological developments that occurred. Through the support of both primary and secondary sources, it is established that the Industrial Revolution was only beneficial for a minority of Great Britain.
It is evident that the Industrial Revolution was unfavourable for the majority of Great Britain, through the appalling living conditions suffered by the proletariat. The working class were forced to endure densely populated housing in the poor districts of London, with roughly 10 people cramped in single room providing little more than a bed of hay. On top of that, the non-existent sanitary facilities and little toilet facilities lead to disease running rampant through the streets of London. This is supported by the 1870 illustration of London by Gustave Dore depicting the overcrowded and contaminated environments in the industrial city. As well as this, Lord Shaftesbury description of a crude dwelling in the slum areas of London further emphasises the poor living conditions. This squalid standard of living experienced by workers of London clearly establishes that the Industrial Revolution was unfavourable.
Likewise, the unfavourable impact of Industrial Revolution is also prevalent through the horrendous working conditions forced upon the industrial workers. The proletariat had no choice but to undergo lengthy work hours, usually 12 hours daily, of strenuous physical labour with little to no breaks during the working day. In return the working class received wages averaging about 5c, as result much of Great Britain suffered from malnutrition and hunger. This can be seen through a description of the diet of factory workers, consisting of little more potatoes, poor quality tea, crusts of bread. Not even children were spared, as seen through man’s description of his gruelling as a child, continually carrying 20kg of clay daily. These harsh working conditions demonstrate that the Industrial Revolution had an unfavourable impact.
On the contrary, the Industrial Revolution was highly beneficial for the bourgeoisie as they greatly profited by

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