Lesson Three: The Effects of Classical Liberalism
3. Lesson 3.3.2 Classical Liberalism Produces Poverty
Immediately before and during the Industrial Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution was also occurring and was providing farmers with improved farming methods that increased food production considerably. However, usually only rich farmers could afford the new farm machinery that was being invented. The smaller, poor farmers could not compete and usually had to sell to the richer farmers. As well, fewer people were needed to farm the land because of the machinery. Therefore, many farmers sold their lands to go find work in the industrial cities.
London Slum
Imagine that your family had owned the same farm for generations, and then your father was forced to sell it and move your family to the city to find work. Your father, mother, younger sisters, and brothers all must work in a factory for your family to survive. The factory smells bad, there is no fresh air, it's filthy, and you see rats. Your mother and father are exhausted from the long hours as are your siblings, but you have no choice. All of you must work for wages that are just enough for your family to survive. You see people die of exhaustion and disease. Education to help you get ahead does not exist for workers. To you, only the factory owners are rich.
This movement of families from small farms to the industrial cities produced a large labour force for the new factories in the cities. For the working class, living and working conditions in the factory cities were deplorable and salaries were small
Newspaper Headlines Detailing the Abuses of Classical Liberalism
Watch this video on the pros and cons of capitalism or classical liberalism and complete the chart attached here as you go.
In order to get a better understanding of the effects of classical liberalism please read pages 116-123 in your textbook, Understandings of Ideologies. You are encouraged to create notes about the material you have read.
After you have completed the assigned pages read the "Child Labourers Speak" and answer questions 1 and 2.
Self-check your answers here.