Industrial Revolution Web Quest

Industrial Revolution Web Quest

Procedure:
Have you ever felt as if you were being treated unfairly at your job, at home or in school? Does it seem as if your efforts go unappreciated and as if your labor is being taken for granted? Of course, you have felt this way! We all have…until we learn about the working conditions in the early factories in Great Britain and elsewhere. Just what were those working conditions like? Why were some people at the time doing better financially while others suffered more than they had in the past?

While the Industrial Revolution was a time of inventiveness and increasing wealth for many, it had negative effects on many other members of society. In this activity, you’ll think about who the “winners” and the “losers” of the Industrial Revolution were, and you will read some accounts of what it was like for the working classes during this time period. You will then compare the situations of these workers to some current issues.

Step 1: Link for step 1: The Industrial Revolution
1. What happened to the production of goods and what changes occurred?

2. What was an important aspect of allowing the Industrial Revolution to grow?

3. What are the two opposing views on the significance of the Industrial Revolution?

4. Why was the Industrial Revolution a great turning point?

Step 2: Link for step 2: Tables and Charts for the I.R.
5. By how much did the pig iron industry in the United Kingdom multiply between 1781 and 1914? (hint: look at the table)

6. By how much did the cotton industry in the United Kingdom multiply between 1834 and 1913?

7. By how much did the railroads system multiply in the United Kingdom between 1840 and 1900?

8. How does the information in the above charts support evidence of the factors of production in the United Kingdom?

Step 3: Link for step 3: Primary Sources of the I.R.
Read at least two testimonials from the site (You are currently looking at ONE testimonial, and it is long. To get to other testimonials, you will need to scroll down to the bottom of this page and there are several links to others.), and then write a speech pretending you’re a humanitarian individual working on the behalf of the people featured on these pages. What would you say to the world about the Industrial Revolution and its impacts on people? What changes would you propose to make things better?

Step 4: Link for step 4: Nike Labor Issue
Link for step 4: Sweatshops & Child Labor

Do similar situations exist today? Are there winners and losers in today’s global economic system? Choose one of the following topics, and write two to three paragraphs comparing this situation with the ones you read about above, during the Industrial Revolution. In your essay, discuss who the winners and losers are and explain the similarities and differences to the cases you’ve read about in the previous section of this activity.

Child Labor Practices
Nike and Child Labor