During the Industrial Revolution, how did political policy work to influence the economy and provide assistance to the working population? (1 point)

Answer 1

During the Industrial Revolution, political policy worked to influence the economy and provide assistance to the working population in several ways:

1. Factory Acts: Governments introduced Factory Acts to regulate working conditions in factories and protect workers. These acts imposed restrictions on working hours, child labor, and provided some safety regulations. For example, the UK Factory Act of 1833 limited working hours for children aged 9-13 to 9 hours a day and required factory owners to provide a minimum of 2 hours of education for these child workers.

2. Minimum Wage Laws: Some governments implemented minimum wage laws to ensure that workers were paid a fair wage for their labor. These laws aimed to prevent exploitation of workers and improve their standard of living.

3. Labor Unions: Governments recognized the importance of collective bargaining and organization of workers. They passed laws that protected the rights of workers to form labor unions, engage in collective bargaining, and strike if necessary. These policies helped workers to negotiate better wages, working conditions, and overall rights.

4. Social Welfare Programs: In response to the social and economic challenges faced by the working class, governments introduced social welfare programs. For instance, the introduction of public healthcare systems, like the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, aimed to provide affordable medical care to the population, including workers.

5. Infrastructure Development: Governments invested in infrastructure development, such as building transportation networks, improving access to education, and providing public services. These initiatives aimed to improve the overall living conditions of the working population and stimulate economic growth.

Overall, political policies implemented during the Industrial Revolution aimed to address the negative impacts of industrialization on the working population by improving working conditions, protecting worker rights, and providing various forms of assistance to ensure a better quality of life for workers.