For our group, the curating and creation process went very smoothly. We were able to split up all the jobs that needed to be accomplished into smaller parts. During class time, we each had something to do that contributed to the outcome of the poster.
Our exhibit shows the importance of transportation and movement of goods during the Industrial Revolution. We had a variety of sources, including a picture of a steam engine showing the incorporation of coal and how it powered the engine to move. Another included a debate between William Wordsworth and Samuel Smiles on the advantages and disadvantages of the railway system in England. There were also letters written by Robert Fulton describing his experiences while riding on the steam engine and the advancements they would make for society in the future. A timeline of events regarding railway advancements was also included with details of what happened between the years of 1804 and 1835. A picture of the London-Birmingham line where railway construction was occurring was also given to us and showed how the land around the railways was effected. Our last source was a map of England with various ways of transportation and areas producing resources showed us how certain good were moved from various places. From this exhibit, I hope people will can learn how the railway system and advancements in railway technology helped not only transport goods, but also people, in a much faster way than ever before. They should also be able to understand how the railway system took up real-estate and forced people to cut out parts of the geography of the land around them.
Products of a Dark Time
With cotton trade from England going as far as Southern Asia, the number of mills had an increase in England. With mills increasing, there was a demand for workers which brought along a higher slave population. Along with more workers, Awkright also made more efficient means of making cotton goods.
The Devastation of Child Labor
With the need for coal, children were employed to mine it. In 1818 50% of workers were under the age of 10 years old and only 8% of people were above the age of 21 years old. With these statistics in mind, the Factory Act of 1833 states that people under the age of 18 cannot work between 8:30 pm and 5:30 am, they cannot work more than 12 hours a day or 69 hours a week, and cannot work if they are under the age of 9 years old.
Not So Great Britain
In England, the slums were dirty and overcrowded as a result of industrialization and cheap labor. The cost for living was more than people were able to make and were forced to live in these unbearable conditions. Pollution was also a problem as factories polluted the air and even the Thames River that ran through the slums, making it an even worse place to live.
Weaving a New World
Women would use a spinning wheel set up in their own houses that they would use to make goods and sell straight from their homes. With the creation of the Spinning Jenny, yarn could be made faster and at a lower cost. This lead to an overcrowding in textile mills as women did not work out of their homes anymore, also forcing the responsibility of making money for the family left on the father or the man of the household.
Overall I enjoyed the process of this project. I had fun reading the sources and putting our poster together. I also liked seeing what other people had thought of of how to show their exhibit to others in creative ways.
No comments:
Post a Comment