Final answer:
The transition from cottage industries to the factory system centralized production, leading to increased control for factory owners, the advent of mass production with new technologies, and profound changes in workers' lives, including harsh work conditions and loss of work-life control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transition from cottage industries to the factory system played a significant role in shaping the economic and social landscape during the Industrial Revolution. By congregating laborers in one location, entrepreneurs gained greater control over production, allowing for the installation of large machinery and the implementation of managerial oversight. As a result of these changes, workers experienced a shift from skilled artisanal work to specialized, repetitive tasks within factories, leading to the mass production of goods.
Furthermore, the centralization of the workforce in urban areas transformed the nature of work. Rural workers flooded into cities seeking employment, while factory owners sought cheap wage labor. This migration spurred urbanization and changed the dynamics of the labor market.
The industrial textile centers like New Lanark in Scotland or Lowell in America became large-scale producers, displacing cottage industry workers but also creating new job opportunities, sometimes on a global scale. This economic transition was met with both social disruption and improvement among ordinary workers and their families. Industry's progression was marked by a shift towards mechanization and the deskilling of labor, fundamentally altering the relationship between workers and their crafts. The ruthless pursuit of profit by factory owners led to the exploitation of workers, including women and children, under demanding conditions.