Question

What did some people think was a solution to the problem of workers being treated badly by factory

owners?
Gombrich: Men & machines

Answer 1

During the 19th century and early 20th century, some people believed that the solution to the problem of workers being treated badly by factory owners was the implementation of labor unions. Labor unions were organizations that brought together workers from the same industry to negotiate better wages, working conditions, and benefits with factory owners. The union members would go on strikes, boycotts, and other forms of protest to achieve their demands. They also advocated for labor laws and regulations that protected the rights of workers and ensured fair treatment by factory owners.

Another solution proposed by some people was the implementation of socialism. Socialism is an economic and political system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole, rather than by private individuals. This would mean that the factory owners would not be able to exploit the workers since the community would be the ones that would take care of the workers' welfare.

Additionally, some people believed that the solution to the problem of workers being treated badly by factory owners was the implementation of government regulations. This would mean that the government would create laws and regulations that would protect the rights of workers and ensure fair treatment by factory owners. This would also mean that the government would enforce these laws and regulations and make sure that factory owners would comply with them.

In summary, some people thought that the solution to the problem of workers being treated badly by factory owners was the implementation of labor unions, socialism, and government regulations. These solutions aimed to provide better wages, working conditions, and benefits for workers, and to ensure fair treatment by factory owners.

Answer 2

A common solution proposed to the problem of workers being treated badly by factory owners in the 19th and early 20th centuries was unionization. The idea behind this solution was that by forming labor unions, workers could come together and bargain collectively for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. Unionization also allowed workers to have a collective voice and representation in negotiations with factory owners and management.

Another solution that was proposed was the implementation of labor laws and regulations that set minimum standards for working conditions, wages, and benefits. This solution aimed to address the problem of worker exploitation by setting legal protections and standards that factory owners were required to adhere to.

Additionally, some people argued for socialism or even communism as a solution to worker exploitation, as those ideologies advocated for the collective ownership of the means of production and the abolition of private property.

It's woprth noting that these solutions were not universally accepted and were met with resistance from factory owners, who saw these measures as a threat to their profits and control over the workforce.