Living Conditions During the Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution brought about a stark decline in living conditions for many workers, particularly in urban areas. Poor living conditions Industrial Revolution became a hallmark of this era, characterized by overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and widespread poverty.

Key features of living conditions during this period:

• Workers earned meager wages, often just a few pence per week
• Long working hours, typically 14-16 hours a day, six days a week
• Widespread migration to urban "slums" due to inability to afford better housing
• Overcrowded living spaces, with 5-9 people sharing a single room
• Dangerous living environments near factories in city centers

Definition: Slums were densely populated urban areas characterized by substandard housing and squalor, often housing the poorest factory workers during the Industrial Revolution.

Highlight: The rapid industrialization and urbanization outpaced the development of adequate housing and infrastructure, leading to severe overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in cities.

Diseases During the Industrial Revolution

The poor living conditions and lack of proper sanitation during the Industrial Revolution led to the widespread prevalence of various diseases. Industrial Revolution diseases were a significant cause of mortality and morbidity among the urban population, particularly affecting the working class.

Three major diseases of the era:

1. Cholera:

   • A bacterial disease spread through contaminated food and water
   • Often fatal if left untreated
   • Particularly dangerous due to contaminated water sources in urban areas

2. Typhoid Fever:

   • Caused by a specific strain of Salmonella
   • Easily spread through contaminated food and drink
   • Potentially fatal, especially in crowded slum conditions

3. Typhus:

   • Also known as Typhus fever
   • Spread by poor hygiene, infected fleas, mice, and lice
   • No cure available at the time, causing painful symptoms and often fatal

Example: The contamination of water sources with sewage led to frequent cholera outbreaks in urban areas, highlighting the dire need for improved sanitation systems.

Government Response:

• The Public Health Act of 1848: Established local public health boards and a General Board of Health
• The Public Health Act of 1875: Government took responsibility for sewage, housing, disease prevention, and water safety

Highlight: These public health acts marked the beginning of government intervention in public health issues, laying the groundwork for modern sanitation and health standards.