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The Woes of the Proletariat During the Industrial Revolution and the Romantic Solution

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The Woes of the Proletariat During the Industrial Revolution and the Romantic Solution

The first half of the 19th century marked a time of great change for Europe. The ideas of production and consumption on a mass scale, the upward trend in urban population and culture, and the increasing prevalence of the existence of and the battle between a pronounced middle class and proletariat are just a few examples of this European transformation. As productive and positive as many of these changes seemed, however, the lives of many in working class Europe during the industrial revolution were negatively impacted. Calls for reform by government officials and members of the middle class alerted the population to the dark side of Europe’s thriving capitalist economy (Merriman 513-514). Artisans and guild members were being undercut by increased mechanization; workers, including large numbers of women and children, were subjected to dehumanizing conditions; and crude market information along with increased competition caused violent, unpredictable economic fluctuations (Merriman 513-514 and Engels).
England, being generally ahead of the curve of the rest of Europe during these times of development, compiled some of the first accounts of said questionable conditions. The investigations into working conditions focused mainly on two of the country’s largest industries, coal and textiles. In 1832, Michael Sadler conducted a parliamentary investigation on the conditions of women and children (often a focal point of subsequent and similar investigations) working in the textile industry (Del Col). The information gathered was troubling at best. Often, women and children were required to work 12-14 hour days with few breaks and even less food. Work started early, anywhere from three to five in the morning, and employees were on their feet, moving, for the large majority of the

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