The 10-Hour Movement formed in protest to the long work hours. Typical workdays would run from twelve to fifteen hours each day, for both men and women. Anthony Ashley-Cooper led the movement in hopes to shorten workday for children under the age of sixteen. This campaign led to the 1833 Factory Act being enacted. One of the major outcomes of the movement, was that there had not been an enforcement agency established to ensure that these conditions were being met. This Act also expanded previous Acts that were restricted to certain industries. This movement also helped to urge Parliament to set maximums for children working. “A maximum working week of 48 hours was set for those aged 9 to 13, limited to eight hours a day; and for children between 13 and 18 it was limited to 12 hours daily. The Act also required children under 13 to receive elementary schooling for two hours each day” (UK Parliment). This was a step in the right direction for the safety and well-being of children. The movement also prompted Parliament to create factory inspectors. The inspectors were tasked with ensuring the regulations were being upheld. While there were far too many factories for the inspectors to effectively patrol them all, this created the position that would later be expanded. While the movement was not particularly large and well known, it was largely responsible for the passing of the 1833 Factory act.

Works Cited

UK Parliament. https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/livi....