The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in Great Britain. The changes subsequently spread throughout Europe, North America, and eventually the world. The onset of the Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in human society; almost every aspect of daily life was eventually influenced in some way

The 1819 Factory Act : no children under 9 to work in factories. Children from 9 to 16 allowed to work a maximum of 72 hours per week with one and a half hours a day for meals.

1833 Althorp`s Factory Act : children from 9 to 13 to work a maximum of 42 hours per week; also children aged 13 to 16 to work a maximum of 69 hours a week. No night work for anybody under the age of 18.

Male and Female children must be housed in different sleeping quarters.

Children may not sleep more than two per bed.

On Sundays children are to have an hour's instruction in the Christian Religion.

Mill owners are also required to tend to any infectious diseases.

Factory owners must wash factories with lime every fourteen months.

Ages must be verified by surgeons.

Accidental death must be reported to a surgeon and investigated.
Thorough records must be kept regarding the provisions of the act.

Machinery was to be fenced in.