Transcript Age of Reforms - Lawndale High School

Stop and Ponder!
If you were in charge what would
you fix during the Industrial
Revolution? What was the biggest
problem? Explain.
Age of Reforms
 Chapter 9 Section 4
Laissez Faire

the idea that government should stay out of business;
government should pass no laws regulating business

European governments/America used this policy during
the 1700’s-1800’s
Laissez Faire Philosophers
 Laissez Faire: “Let it be” in French
 from 18th century Enlightenment philosophers
 they argued that government
regulations only get in the way
a nation getting wealthy
● they argued that if government
stayed out of business the economy
would prosper
Adam Smith
Adam Smith

18th century British philosopher

wrote The Wealth of Nations 1776

book argues government should not interfere in
business
Capitalism
Capitalism

the economic system where money is invested in
businesses with the goal of making a profit

the economic system where individual
citizens can invest in and own businesses
this system is used in America
Thomas Malthus
The Malthusian Scissor
The Malthusian Scissor

1798 Malthus argued that populations increased faster
than the food supply

because of this most people were destined to be poor
and miserable
The Malthusian Scissor

as a result populations would naturally even
themselves out through starvation, unemployment,
and desperation (The Malthusian Scissor)
The Malthusian Scissor
Malthus opposed
government intervention in
Business (minimum wage
laws, better working
conditions)


Malthus argued this would
upset the natural order of
business (these problems
should sort themselves out)
Most European leaders believed in The
Malthusian Scissor: this belief caused
them to do nothing to solve social
problems
Rise of Socialism
 in contrast to Laissez-Faire philosophers,
some theorists argued that government
should intervene and help the lower classes!
Socialist
Reforms
Utilitarianism
Utopianism
Socialism
Marxism
Utilitarianism
 introduced by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham late
1700s
Utilitarianism
 he argued people should judge governments on their
utility, or usefulness
 government should try to promote the greatest good for
the greatest number of people
Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill
 led the Utilitarianism movement in the 1800s
 believed it was wrong that workers suffered starvation
and dangerous conditions
 he favored women’s rights
women’s suffrage
Pushed for reforms in the prison
and education systems
Utopianism
Utopianism
Robert Owen
British factory owner
improved factory conditions
for his employees
Near his cotton mill in Scotland he built
houses that he rented to his
employees at low rates
prohibited children under 10
from working in his mills
and provided free schools
New Harmony, Indiana
New Harmony, Indiana

1824 Robert Owen founded a community New
Harmony, Indiana
he intended it to be a utopia (perfect
living place for all his employees);
New Harmony only lasted 3 years but
it inspired the founding of other
utopian communities later
Socialism

founded by French reformer
Charles Fourier
Socialism

in socialism the factors of production
(land, wealth, labor) are owned by the public for the
welfare of all
grew out of belief in human good,
progress, and social justice
People own the factors of production, the
government runs the economy to ensure
no abuses
government should promote
equality of all and public
ownership of business: help
workers who were at mercy of greedy owners
Marxism (Communism)
Karl Marx
 German journalist
 He and friend Friedrich
Engels wrote The
Communist Manifesto
1848: 23 page pamphlet
that argued human
societies have always
been divided into warring
classes (haves vs. havenots)

 Friedrich Engels
The Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto

Bourgeoisie owners vs. Proletariat workers

wealthy controlled money and
production while poor performed
hard labor under horrible conditions
this situation had to
result in conflict
Future According to Marx
 Industrial Revolution would eventually destroy itself :
 The large Proletariat (working class) would revolt, seize
factories, and produce what society needed
 Revolt would be
Global: all workers
unite in all countries
 workers would share in the profits
and there would be equality for all
Governments would
disappear: there would be
no need for them
Pure Communism

final phase of the revolution: private property would
cease to exist

all land, mines, factories, railroads,
businesses would be owned by the people
all goods and services would be shared equally
social classes would cease to exist
Results of Marxism


revolts shook Europe 1848-1849
1900’s Communist revolutions took
place in Russia, China, Vietnam, Cuba,
Korea and other nations in
Eastern Europe
leaders of these new communist nations
adapted Marx’ beliefs to fit their own ideals and needs
Results of Marxism

Marx believed economic forces alone
dominated society

He ignored the power of religion, nationalism, ethnic
loyalty, and desire for democracy: He also ignored
capitalism’s ability to adapt and change

These are why worldwide Communism
did not happen
Today: China, Cuba, North Vietnam,
North Korea only Communist nations left
The Union Movement
The Union Movement

mid-late 1800s labor unions emerged to
protect workers’ rights




a union spoke for all workers
in a particular Industry
British Government banned unions in 1800
desperate workers joined anyway
British government unhappily allowed unions in 1825
The Union Movement
 Collective Bargaining: large  Strike: if factory owners
scale negotiations between
workers and their
employers with union
representing the workers
(bargaining for better pay
and better conditions)
did not meet union’s
demands they went on
strike, or refused to work
American Federation of Labor

1886 most powerful early American Union
 Founded by Samuel Gompers
 In America unions emerged in early 1800s
Reform Laws
Factory Act 1833
Mines Act 1842
Ten Hours Act 1847
Factory Act 1833
 Factory Act 1833 : made it illegal to hire children under
9 in Great Britain; kids 9-12 could not work more than 8
hrs./day; kids 13-17 could not work more than 12 hrs./day
Mines Act 1842

Mines Act 1842: prevented women and children from
working in underground mines in Great Britain
Ten Hours Act 1847

Ten Hours Act 1847: limited work day to 10 hrs. for
women and children in factories
Labor reforms were slower to hit America: not until 1920s1930s did new laws take place in America to protect
workers
earned 1/3 as
much as men
led reform
movements
Women
fought to end
slavery in America
and Britain
formed unions
in trades
American women started
settlement houses to
assist poor immigrants
Reforms Spread to Other Areas of Life

prison reform and education reform

1850s most American states set up free public education
systems

Western Europe free public education
came in late 1800s