Final answer:
During the Second Industrial Revolution, labor and social reform movements arose to address the hardships faced by the working class. Governments and activists introduced regulations and reforms, such as abolishing child labor and establishing unions, to improve living and working conditions. Although progress was made, many challenges persisted and influenced today's ongoing workers' rights issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Second Industrial Revolution, spanning from the mid-19th century until World War I, presented both opportunities and challenges. While industrialization and urbanization improved many aspects of life, they also led to suffering and discontent among the working class. To address the growing social issues, a variety of labor and social reform movements emerged.
Governments attempted to mitigate some of these issues through regulation and reform. Legislation was passed to abolish child labor, ensure worker's insurance, establish safe housing, and combat environmental pollution. Middle-class reformers focused on moral improvement and campaigned against alcohol consumption and for women's rights. The working class, influenced by socialism and socialist parties, formed unions to secure better working conditions, higher wages, and reduced working hours. These movements varied in success, and when changes were slow, tensions sometimes escalated to violent conflicts.
Intellectuals and social activists, including industrialists like Robert Owen, sought to redesign industrial society to be more just. They advocated for better labor conditions and sometimes implemented reforms in their own factories. Workers' issues such as rights, fair wages, and safety are concerns originating from this era that persist in contemporary society.