Question

Why were factory conditions so bad at the start of the Industrial Revolution?

A) Factory owners wanted to maximize profits.
B) Laws were not in place to protect workers.
C) There was too much work and too few workers.
D) Workers were used to poor conditions.

Answer 1

The deplorable factory conditions during the early Industrial Revolution were due to factory owners prioritizing profit over worker safety, lack of protective laws, and an abundant labor force that kept wages low and allowed for easy replacement of workers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The factory conditions were so bad at the start of the Industrial Revolution primarily because of a combination of factors. Factory owners aimed to maximize profits by employing cheap, unskilled labor to operate simple manufacturing processes, often disregarding worker safety and health. In the absence of stringent laws or regulations to protect workers, many, including women and children, were subjected to long hours, meager wages, and harsh working conditions. These unsafe and deplorable conditions were exacerbated by the surplus of laborers which kept wages low and replaced workers easily in case of illness or injury.

Worker rights and protections eventually became significant issues, marking the start of societal changes that led to the betterment of working conditions. Nonetheless, during the early period of industrialization, such safeguards were virtually non-existent, leading to widespread exploitation and difficult lives for the working class.