Name: ______Industrial Revolution Document Questions10 Honors

Document 1A

  1. Engels talks about the high mortality rate among young workers in factories. What does that mean?
  2. Describe several physical and health maladies throughout the document that Engels noticed among the workers in these factories.
  3. Describe the many causes of these physical and health maladies mentioned throughout the document.
  4. What was noticed by military recruiting officers when they came to the factories?
  5. What are common physical/health problems suffered by female workers?
  6. What were some interesting points made by Engels concerning pregnant workers?
  7. What were major workplace hazards for those who worked in textile/cotton mills?
  8. What does Engels say that represents his feelings toward the factory owners? (a.k.a. the “bourgeois?”) How does he point out their hypocrisy?
  9. Provide a list of concerns Engels discusses about the living arrangements in cities among the poor.
  10. What are two things he says the poor are not deprived of? How does he deduce this?
  11. Identify any three laws today that have corrected any of the problems mentioned by Engels other than the laws provided for in other documents provided.

Documents 1B and 1C

  1. What reasons can you come up with as to why children are performing these tasks rather than adults?
  2. Clearly, this work is dangerous for anyone, let alone children. What are four workplace laws/regulations put in place that help safeguard our teenagers today? (What are jobs can’t you work at all? How is your participation limited in jobs you can work? Why?)

Documents 1D and 1E

  1. What do you notice about the population of British cities during this period?
  2. What do you notice about the change in rail line construction in Europe during this period?
  3. Why do you think both of these changes lead to a swift increase in European imperialism/colonization/spheres of influence? Be very specific in proving your answer.

Document 2

  1. Describe a typical workday for this worker.
  2. What was the arrangement for meals and drink breaks?
  3. What was discipline like in the factory? For what reasons were they disciplined?
  4. Describe the health/physical problems Miss Bentley faced as a result of her employment in the flax mill.
  5. Why do you think parents allowed their children to be subjected to this type of work?
  6. Miss Bentley says she ultimately wound up “in the poorhouse.” What safety nets are in place today (besides laws/regulations), that are meant to help people like Miss Bentley after what happened to her? (Might have to ask a parent/guardian for help on this one).

Document 3

  1. According to the document, why does Parliament state it is enacting this law?
  2. What are restrictions and the guarantees for those under age eighteen?
  3. What is the youngest a person can legally be allowed to work?
  4. What can be the number of hours for those above that age but under 13? What is required to employ them?
  5. Describe some mandatory days off required under this Act.
  6. How was this law to be enforced? Describe their powers/responsibilities.
  7. What are many of these children required to attend while they work their limited hours? Why do you think this was (and still is) required by law?

MORE QUESTIONS ON BACK

Document 4

  1. What were the work restrictions for women employed by mines and collieries?
  2. What was the age restriction to be employed in a mine for men/boys?
  3. Describe the work restrictions for them.
  4. Describe actions granted to the government under the Mines Act that empowered them to enforce these laws and hold owners accountable.
  5. Most of you are or will be 16-years-old. Do you feel today’s labor laws and work restrictions are more of a benefit or more of a hindrance to your personal wishes/goals as an employee? Explain.

Document 5 (3 Documents)

  1. How is cholera contracted?
  2. What are the symptoms and health risks if you contract it?
  3. Explain how urbanization increased the risks of contracting it.
  4. What is the author’s point in the political cartoon?
  5. What are both the warnings and guidelines presented in the Broadsheet?
  6. What precautions and facilities do we have today to prevent outbreaks of cholera?

Document 6

  1. Marx & Engels say that history is nothing more than a series of class struggles. What do they mean by this, and what two groups are always struggling? By what means do they say it has always ended before?
  2. Do they think the situation is any different at the time they wrote this document? Explain why.
  3. What do they mean by the modern bourgeoisie? Who do they consist of? What do the authors claim they are guilty of doing to the other classes?
  4. Who is included in the proletariat? What must they do to change their status?
  5. What should the proletariat do once their status has changed?
  6. The authors talk about how all instruments of production should then be placed in the hands of “the state.” Who is “the state?” Why do you think they feel this would be a good solution to fix class struggle and proletariat oppression?
  7. For each of the ten proposed measures, explain in detail why the proposal would help accomplish Marxist goals to end class conflict.
  8. Which measures, as we stand today, do you support? Explain.
  9. Which measures, as we stand today, do you oppose? Explain.
  10. What are the authors calling for to achieve these goals in industrialized nations?
  11. What is meant by the phrase “the proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains?”