Final answer:
The Second Industrial Revolution brought challenging labor conditions such as low wages, lack of worker benefits, and dangerous work environments due to a surplus of labor and rapid technological advancements. These factors, compounded by minimal regulation, led to movements advocating for improved workers' rights and regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors contributing to the challenging labor conditions in the Second Industrial Revolution involved the combination of a surfeit of labor, hazardous working environments, and the pressures of rapid industrial growth. A surplus of laborers resulted in low wages and few worker benefits, as there was consistent availability of replacement workers who were often desperate due to unemployment and poverty. This circumstance was exacerbated by work environments lacking sufficient safety measures, leading to frequent accidents and exploitative conditions where workers faced long hours, often with no legal recourse or protections.
Rapid technological advancements were central to the Second Industrial Revolution and while they improved productivity and generated wealth for factory owners, they also resulted in jobs requiring repetitive and monotonous tasks, contributing to mental and physical fatigue amongst workers. The introduction of new machinery without adequate safety features further increased workplace injuries.
Contrary to increasing worker benefits, these conditions highlighted the pressing need for comprehensive labor laws which took time to implement. Movements for regulation and reform eventually emerged to advocate for workers' rights, including shorter working hours, safer conditions, and fair wages, which led to gradual improvements in labor standards over time.