Industrialization brought much change to America. It created many jobs and new forms of transportation. It created a wider range of goods and significantly decreased their price. Many positives resulted from the industrial revolution. However, there are negatives in any situation. The negative affects of the industrial revolution outweighed the good. Cities quickly became overcrowded and health concerns quickly came about. Children were forced to work in factories with extreme hours and very unsafe conditions as well as adults. The quality of life quickly took a turn for the worst.
One of the most significant effects of industrialization was that it led to urbanization of countries. (Document #6) Citizens in rural areas began to move to cities …show more content…
As new factories opened, employers were quick to hire children as a low cost source of labor. Workdays would often be 10 to 14 hours with minimal breaks during the shift. However, not all the children were in bad conditions. “I think that the factory is the best place for me and if any girl wants employment, I advise them to come to Lowell.” states Mary Paul, a textile factory worker, in a letter she wrote in 1846. (Document #1) However, massive documentation and empirical evidence shows the other sides of child labor. The children worked with dangerous machinery often with little to no protection. They were exposed to environments with toxic fumes that when inhaled, could cause disease and illness. It was later noted that prolonged exposure to such fumes could result in chronic respiratory conditions sometimes resulting in death. (The History of Child Labor During the American Industrial Revolution.) Children were subject to severe injury and sometimes death during these times. Furthermore, we need to take into consideration that physical injury was not the only harm present. They were victim to social, intellectual, and psychological damage as well. The industrial revolution destroyed the childhood of