Social Studies Name: ______________________

Directions: Read the following sources and complete the related questions.

When I was a surgeon in the infirmary, accidents were

very often admitted to the infirmary, through the
children's hands and arms having being caught in the
machinery; in many instances the muscles, and the
skin is stripped down to the bone, and in some
instances a finger or two might be lost. Last summer I
visited Lever Street School. The number of children at
that time in the school, who were employed in
factories, was 106. The number of children who had
received injuries from the machinery amounted to
very nearly one half. There were forty-seven injured in
this way.

-Dr. Ward from Manchester was interviewed about

the health of textile workers on 25th March, 1819.

There are factories, no means few in number, nor

confined to the smaller mills, in which serious
accidents are continually occurring, and in which,
notwithstanding, dangerous parts of the machinery
are allowed to remain unfenced. Workers are often
abandoned from the moment that an accident
occurs; their wages are stopped, no medical
attendance is provided, and whatever the extent of
the injury, no compensation is afforded.

- British House of Commons Report in 1832.

©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd of September
were very hot days. The newspapers
told us that men had dropped down I have seen my master, Luke Taylor,
dead in the harvest fields and the many with a horse whip standing outside
horses had fallen dead in the harvest the mill when the children have
fields and that many horses had fallen come too late... he lashed them all
dead upon the road. Yet the heat during the way to the mill.
these days never exceeded eighty-four
degrees in the hottest part of the day. -John Fairbrother, an
What, then, must be the situation of the overlooker, interviewed in
poor children who are doomed to toil 1819.
fourteen hours a day, in an average of
eighty-two degrees? Can any man, with
a heart in his body, and a tongue in his
head, refrain from cursing a system that
produces such slavery and such
cruelty?

-William Cobbett reported a visit

to a textile factory that he made
in September, 1824 (20th
November, 1824).

This family living near a factory in Chicago

includes Mother and Father and 7 children.
The whole family lives in a one-room shack
in shanty town. The younger kids all sleep in
the same bed. Mom, Dad, and older sister
sleep on blankets on the floor. Everyone has
two pairs of clothes (one to wear, while the
other is being washed). All the kids get one
good meal a day, even if Mom and Dad have
to go without. Tim (10), George (8), and Bob
(7) all work in the factory. Sister Sara (16)
and Mother work different shifts at the local
sweatshop so that they can care for the little
ones: Lara (3) and Lisa (2). Little Billy (5)
works with Dad as a Chimney Sweep (being
lowered into the chimney to scrap off soot).
The stove is used for cooking or heat only if
they can scrape together wood or coal.
©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)
Social Studies Name: Trang Anh

Directions: Answer the following questions in relation to the sources.

1. What information does “Source 1: A Doctor’s Report” give us about

the type and severity of injuries that children suffered?
The children lost their fingers, limbs and were very badly injured due
to the machines, and it happened very frequently.

2. What is the significance of “Source 1: A Doctor’s Report” in

terms of the number of children injured during the Industrial
Revolution?
Half of the children that work in a factory was injured.

3. “Source 1: A Doctor’s Report” and “Source 2: No Compensation”

discuss the injuries and the outcomes of injuries on the workers. What
do you think could be the effect on society in general when
considering both sources?
If many got hurt then there won’t be any workers left and the injured
workers can’t get any jobs so they’ll starve themselves to death. The
children will also can’t work as efficiently without fingers.
©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)
4. Considering “Source 2: No Compensation” why do you think the
injured workers were treated in this way?
The injured workers were treated that way because if they were
injured that badly, they have no use anymore and can’t work and
make money for the factory owners. The owners saw that they
had no business with the injured person so they were just left
there and considered useless.

5. Considering the picture beside “Source 2: No Compensation”, what

information does it give us about the working conditions for
children in the factories?
The working conditions were very bad. Children at a very young
age was already working in factories and they didn’t get to wear
shoes. They had to work with big and dangerous machines that
may cause them to die.

6. “Source 3: The Heat” compares the working conditions in the

factories to slavery.
a. To what extent do you agree with this view? Explain.
I agree that it is a cruel thing to do, since making people work at
ridiculous hours on a hot day isn’t that nice but I don’t think it’s
slavery because no one’s whipping anyone and you can quit.

b. In what ways does “Source 4: The Master” support or

oppose the comparison of the conditions in the factories to
slavery? It opposes because slaves can never be late to
work, and supports because the master lashed at them
with his whip which is how slaves are usually treated and
normal people are not.
c. In what ways does “Source 5: A Family’s Story” support or
oppose the comparison of the conditions in the factories to
slavery?

©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)

7. “Source 4: The Master” talks about the abuse that the children
sometimes faced in the factories.
a. What do you think the role of an “overlooked” is?
An over looker is probably someone who’s also a worker but he
gets the higher position than the other children, and gets to
supervise and look over the other children.

b. What do you think the role of a “master” is?

I think the master is the manager and the one in charge of the
work. He has the power to control the children

c. Why do you think the children were treated like this?

I think it’s because they couldn’t fight back and stand up for
themselves so the masters took advantage of that. They were
viewed as working machines and slaves instead of children.

8. The dangerous conditions in the factories, and other workplaces, are

well documented in the sources. What additional information does
“Source 5: A Family’s Story” tell us about the lives of the working
class during the Industrial Revolution?
The working class lacks food, an adequate shelter, clothes and money. They had a bad living
condition.

9. Considering all of the sources, describe specific details about the

working and living conditions that children faced during the Industrial
Revolution.
The working condition was harsh and dangerous. Kids lost their body
parts and got heavily injured because of working in factories.
Compensation wasn’t even afforded for these kids. There wages were
low so they had bad living conditions, they didn’t have adequate
shelters, amount of food and clothes.

©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)

10. Considering all of the sources, who do you think
benefitted during the Industrial Revolution? Explain your
reasoning.
I think that the upper middle class, factory owners, landowners
and businesses benefited the most because with they got richer
with all of the products they were selling from their factories,
and with a lot of money, only they can afford all the new
products and inventions.

11. Considering all of the sources, why do you think factories

would employ children instead of adults during the Industrial
Revolution?
The children are docile and easy to trick and control. They can’t
rebel and fight back. The machines in the factories are also
designed for their little hands and fingers to control.

12. What argument(s) or support do you think a factory owner

would use to support the use of child labor during the Industrial
Revolution?
That the children can quit whenever they want and this is what
they chose.
©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)
Social Studies Name: ______________________

Imagine that you are a member of an organization that is trying to stop child
labor during the time period of the Industrial Revolution. In the space below
write a letter to a local government official stating your perspective on child
labor and the conditions present in the factories. In the letter you need to
explain and give specific and historically accurate information regarding the
experiences that the children face in the factories, and create an argument
against the use of children in the workplace. You will need to be persuasive
and convincing in your writing and use historically accurate information to
support your perspective.

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©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)

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©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)

Social Studies Name: ______________________
Written Response Evaluation
EXPLANATIONS AND SUPPORT (8 marks)
Excellen
t 8 Explanations are deliberate and comprehensive,
revealing a perceptive understanding. Support is
E specific and accurate, and errors, if present, do not
detract from the response. A thorough understanding
of the assigned task is demonstrated.
Proficient 6.4 Explanations are appropriate and purposeful,
revealing a clear understanding. Support is relevant
Pf and appropriate, but may contain some minor errors.
A clear understanding of the assigned task is
demonstrated.
Satisfactory 4.8 Explanations are general and straightforward,
S revealing an acceptable understanding. Support is
relevant but general, may be incompletely developed,
and/or contains errors. An acceptable understanding of
the assigned task is demonstrated.
Limited 3.2 Explanations are overgeneralized and/or redundant,
revealing a confused, though discernible,
L understanding. Support is superficial, may not be
always relevant, and may contain significant errors.
An incomplete understanding of the assigned task is
demonstrated.
Poor 1.6 Explanations are tangential or minimal, revealing a
negligible understanding. Support, if present, is
P incomplete, may be marginally relevant, and contains
significant and/or frequent errors. A minimal
understanding of the assigned task is demonstrated.
Insufficient
INS
Mark: /10
COMMUNICATION (2 marks)
2 The writing is fluent and purposefully organized.
Vocabulary is precise. The writing demonstrates
confident control of sentence construction,
grammar, and mechanics. Errors, if present, are
inconsequential.
1.6 The writing is straightforward and clearly
organized. Vocabulary is specific. The writing
frequently demonstrates effective control of
sentence construction, grammar, and mechanics.
Errors do not detract from communication.
1.2 The writing is generally clear and functionally
organized. Vocabulary is adequate. The writing
demonstrates basic control of sentence
construction, grammar, and mechanics. Errors do
not seriously interfere with communication.
0.8 The writing is uneven and incomplete, but is
discernibly organized. Vocabulary is imprecise
and/or inappropriate. The writing demonstrates a
faltering control of sentence construction,
grammar, and mechanics. Errors hinder
communication.
0.4 The writing is unclear and disorganized.
Vocabulary is ineffective and frequently incorrect.
A lack of control of sentence construction,
grammar, and mechanics is demonstrated. Errors
impede communication.
©Copyright Brodie Millar 2014. (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brodie-Millar)