Factory Work

The population of London grew from 950,000 in 1800 to 6 million in 1900. After 1850 Chinese immigrants started settling in Limehouse. There were also many Irish immigrants in the Docklands. By 1850 London had 20,000 Jews. Their numbers doubled in the 1880's when many refugees arrived from Russia and Eastern Europe. The large number of workers made London a booming manufacturing center in the 19th century, but despite the booming industry, there was a great deal of severe poverty. Even at the end of the 19th century about 20% of the population were living at subsistence (bare survival) level. About 10% of the population were living below subsistence level because the abundant work force led to a feeble salary for factory jobs. Factory conditions were horrific, and workers were made to do hard and unpleasant work for little in return. They were cooped up in a heated atmosphere, debarred the necessary exercise, remaining in one position for a series of hours, one set or system of muscles alone called into activity. There was little to no regulation, so workers were severely exploited -- including many young children, who spent their entire adolescence doing one miserable assembly line job.