Question

What was the factory system that arose from 1815 to 1836 and how did it effect social relationships?

Answer 1

The factory system arose in the 18th century and introduced machinery along with a labor division that increased the output per worker. The system is based on the concentration of industry into specialization which eventually raises the quantity of goods with mass production at a lower price. The factory system was characterized with machinery usage; centralization of factories; economies of scale and standardized interchangeable parts. Work was cheaper, faster, higher efficient and more wages than farm workers. It led to important social consequences. Prior to the factory system, majority of workers lived on farms in the countryside. With the formation of large establishments, workers began to move to the cities. This movement to an urban society from a rural society caused a dramatic shift in an approach the people lived and was partly hold the responsibility for the rise of urban living. For fighting long working hours and dangerous working conditions, workers began to strike and form unions.