Factory Acts Years –1801-50 in United Kingdom and 1870-1900 in United States

People having a good look at the Cambridge encyclopedia will come across much useful information on history, geography, politics, science, sociology and various others. One of the interesting information relates to the factory years that displays the period of evolution in the factory laws in the country.

Factory Acts in United Kingdom

Factory Acts years refers to a series of acts that were passed by the British Parliament that limited the number of working hours for women and children. Some of the features of these acts are-
Initially the Acts were related to women and children working in Textile industries.
Factory reform movement that spurred the passage of these laws, limited the hours in factories and mills.
First and foremost objective of the acts was to limit the working hours for the children to 10 hours or less.
Factory and Workshop Acts that were passed during 1878-95 were known by the same collective names.

Some of the Notable Factory Act Years

Most notable among the Factory Act Years in United Kingdom were –
1802 – When the Factory Act was passed on health and morals of the apprentices.
1819 – When Cotton Mills Act was passed limiting the working hours of children in the age group of 9-16 was limited to 12 hours and employment for children under 9 years were banned.
1833 – When Factories Act was passed limiting working hours of children in the age group of 14-18 to 12 hours with one hour lunch break.
1844 – Factories Act this year reduced the working hours for children to 9 hours and extended many benefits to women as well.
1847 – Factories Act this year introduced the 10 hours bill limiting the work week for women and children under 18 in the textile industries.

Scenario in United States

A series of factories act came up in United States starting with 1870 Massachusetts and followed by many others in quick succession. Most of these acts were related to health and safety problems. Factory inspection system was also introduced in the same state in 1875 and for the first time a comprehensive report on labor related issues were published in New Jersey in the year 1890.

This was only the beginning and prelude to an efficient system in the country.


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