Introduction
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution resulted in the most profound, far-reaching changes in the history of humanity. And its influence continues to sweep through our lives today. The last 250 years of industrialization have altered our lives more than any event or development in the past 12,000 years: in where we live, how we work, what we wear, what we eat, what we do for fun, how we are educated, how long we live and how many children we have. The Industrial Revolution provided the countries that first adopted it with the technological and economic advantages necessary to eventually rule most of the world. In short, the Industrial Revolution is the “game changer” of modern world history. More than anything else, it’s what makes the modern world, well, “modern.”
The Industrial Revolution is an era that began in England at the end of the 18th century, but it has yet to end. We can distinguish three phases of the Industrial Revolution in modern world history, based on when various countries and regions went through the process:
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The first phase (1770s to 1860s) started with Britain and then spread to other countries in Northern and Western Europe and the United States.
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The second phase (1870s to 1950s) brought in Russia, Japan, other parts of Eastern and Southern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
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The third phase (1960s to present) brought in the so-called Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea) and has seen tentative development in key economic sectors in Turkey, India, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
Task
Task
You will take on the role of a child labor. What was life like for people your age and younger during the Industrial Revolution? You will analyze a series of Web sites containing information on the various types of jobs children worked during this time. You must carefully research your role. You must decide what reforms should be made in order to help you change your situation!
Each team member will research one of the following roles:
- Factory Worker
- Miner
- Seafood Worker/Farm Hand
- Newsboy
When you are finished, you will meet to discuss your roles and then choose which job your group thinks was the worst for the time period.
Activity 1 - Once you have decided which job is the most difficult, each team member is expected to design an original machine that would make the job easier.
Diagram- Sketch and label the parts of the machine.
Instructions- Provide instructions as to how to use the machine.
* Explain in a paragraph how this would make life easier for those in the Industrial Revolution
Activity 2- Preview and read the supplied articles about child labor as it exists today.
Draft a letter to your senator, explaining your point of view on the topic.
- Letter Format needed
-Neatly written with complete thought and sentences
Process
Process
Step 1: First, divide up the work! Each person in the group should have already been assigned a role. Your choices are:
- Factory Worker
- Miner
- Seafood Worker/Farm Hand
- Newsboy
Step 2: Next, each person will spend time going to their individual role pages listed to the left to gather research for their assigned role. When you begin your research, make sure you download your Role Research Sheet. You will use this research sheet to record your answers.
Step 3: When you have finished your research and have a clear picture of the type of work the child had
to endure during the Industrial Revolution, create a Sensory Figure of the child laborer. This Sensory Figure should capture the child's senses as they completed their job. Complete your Sensory Figure using the link located on the credit tab.
- Head = "I think..."
- Eyes = "I see..."
- Ears = "I hear..."
- Mouth = "I say..."
- Nose = "I smell..."
- Heart = "I feel..."
- Hands = "I touch..."
- Feet = "I (an action)..."
Step 4: Once all of your group members have completed their research and Sensory Figures, you will meet to discuss your findings. Which role do you think had it the worst? Important! You need to listen to each other and give everyone a chance to talk about their role. Hear each role and thoroughly discuss the pros and cons to each profession before making a decision. If you disagree with each other, calmly discuss your side with your team mates. If you can't come to a decision, take a vote, majority rules!
When you are finished discussing, answer the questions . Make sure all group members' names are on the sheet and it's completely filled out. Don't leave any blanks!
Evaluation
Evaluate your Findings
Miner
You have been assigned the role of a Miner. While researching this role, consider the following: What was life like for child laborers in this profession during the Industrial Revolution?
How and where did they live? What hardships did they face? What are some of the experiences they had? How did they dress, look, act, etc?
Use Role Research Sheet at the in order to record your findings!
*Use the internet links located on the tab labeled Credits:
Credits
- 1) History Place: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/
- 2) Factory workers: http://www2.needham.k12.ma.us/nhs/cur/Baker_00/2002_p7/ak_p7/childlabor.html
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/children_in_factories/
3) Miners
4) Seafood Workers/Farm Hands
News Boy
https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/the-newsboy-strike-of-1899/