Working conditions during the Industrial Revolution were poor. Workers faced long 14-16 hour work days with no benefits, low pay due to an oversupply of labor, and dangerous conditions. Factories and mines exposed workers to excessive heat, fumes, cave-ins, explosions and unsafe machinery leading to injuries. Women and children were also forced to work for low wages to support their families, violating moral standards of the time.

1. Poor Working Conditions
1. Wages were low due to large supply of workers
2. Long work days were 14-16 hours per day, 6days a week.
3. Workers Lacked Benefits:
a. NO Workers compensation
b. NO Holidays/sick days
c. NO Minimum Wage
d. NO Job Security
4. Dangerous Conditions
a. excessive temperatures in cotton mills
b. fumes and poor ventilation
c. coal mines:
1. cave-ins were common
2. unpredictable explosions and gas fumes
3. cramped quarters resulted in deformed bodies of children
4. unsafe machines led to bodily harm and loss of jobs
5. Women and Children as Workers:
a. low wages forced women and children to help support the family.
b. both were paid lower wages than men
c. violated the moral conscious of many.

2. Life in the Cities
Cities Grew Quickly
• As industry expanded and millions
of immigrants poured into the
US, cities grew rapidly.
• This rapid growth led to poorly
built housing, overcrowded
cities, and deplorable conditions.
• Tenements: multi-family
apartments, poorly
maintained, overcrowded, lack of
running water and sanitation.
Health: Disease spread through
cities as a result of
overcrowding, inadequate water
supply, no sanitation or garbage
removal.
Year Americans Living In Cities
1880 25%
1900 40%
1920 Over 50%