Cotton Mills and Factories Act
Poets involved
What happened
The Cotton Mills and Factories Act of 1819 was a landmark piece of legislation in Britain that set the minimum working age for children in cotton mills at nine years and limited their working hours to twelve per day. This act was a response to the harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution and aimed to improve working conditions for children. It marked a significant step towards labor reform and the eventual establishment of more comprehensive labor rights.
Literary impact
The Cotton Mills and Factories Act of 1819 fueled social commentary in literature, inspiring poets and writers of the era to address urban poverty and child exploitation in industrial society. Poets like William Blake and Elizabeth Barrett Browning highlighted the plight of the working class in their poignant verses.
Source: Wikipedia
