What was the main purpose of the Factory Act of 1833 in Britain?
Answer
To improve working conditions, especially for children, by limiting working hours and ensuring education.
The correct answer is To improve working conditions, especially for children, by limiting working hours and ensuring education. — Conclude that the primary aim was to protect children and improve overall factory conditions.
Step-by-step solution
- Recall the social problems highlighted by factory workers in the early 19th century.
- Identify that the Act specifically addressed child labour.
- Note that the Act restricted the working day for children aged 9‑13 to 9 hours and mandated schooling.
- Conclude that the primary aim was to protect children and improve overall factory conditions.
Common mistake: Thinking the Act abolished child labour completely instead of regulating it.
Concept tested: Factory Act of 1833
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
Related questions
- 1 The Factory Act of 1847, also known as the Ten Hours Act, was primarily aimed at:
- 2 The Mines Act of 1842 was enacted primarily to:
- 3 Which invention, introduced in the 1760s, dramatically increased the speed of cotton yarn production and paved the way for the factory system in Britain?
- 4 Name the two key inventions that marked the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Britain.
- 5 Analyse the way the Industrial Revolution created two new social classes in Britain – the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Discuss the main characteristics of each class and evaluate how their conflicting interests gave rise to the Chartist movement of the 1830s‑1840s.
- 6 Explain how the introduction of railways affected the movement of raw materials and finished goods within India during the British period.