The industrial revolution, which started in England in the eighteenth century, resulted in the replacement of human labor by machines with the sole purpose of increasing the productivity of the goods. The industrial revolution transformed technology to a great extent, leaving behind several negative impacts in spite of the development in technology. The living condition of the workers working in the newly built industries became worse day by day. The workers were forced to move to areas where the factories and industries were established as a result of the industrial revolution. The factory owners forced the workers to run dangerous machines for long hours under inhuman conditions for very less wages. The machines injured the workers in numerous ways.
The factories lacked proper hygiene and sanitation due to which, the workers were mostly prone to epidemics such as cholera and typhoid. The workers lived in dark and dirty shelters. The most hazardous condition was that of the workers in the coal mines. Poor nutrition, frequent accidents and constant exposure to dirt and dust reduced the life span of the workers to a great extent. The industrial revolution biased women by offering less than one-third wages earned by men. The factory owners employed children as young as five years.
Children had to carry heavy goods and sometimes crawl under machinery to repair broken parts. The smoke and waste substances released from the factories caused horrible damage to the air and water.
The industrial revolution resulted in imperialism and exploitation of resources from non-industrial wealthy nations. The industrial revolution also led to the development of various classes in the society such as the rich class, upper middle class and lower class. People were bifurcated into the depending upon their wealth. People lacked proper police protection and a good education system. Thus, the advancements in technology during the industrial revolution degraded the social and economic lives of the people in every possible way.
