Final answer:
In 19th century England, labor movements concentrated on enhancing wages, working hours, and conditions. Trade and labor unions became instrumental in advocating for these changes, with the Trades Union Congress being significant. Strides were made towards bettering work life and reducing child labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the 19th century, the labor movements in England primarily focused on various reforms to improve the socio-economic conditions of the working class. Workers demanded better wages, reduced hours, and safer working conditions. The push for an eight-hour workday became a central goal for many unions. When their needs were not addressed, workers employed strikes as a means of protest. Notable were the women in the match factories in 1881 who opposed the fourteen-hour workdays and the dangers of working with white phosphorous.
The formation of trade and labor unions played a key role in these movements. The Trades Union Congress was established in 1866, and legal recognitions for unions came in the 1870s, which boosted union membership. This period saw a significant increase in trade union membership, rising to about one million by the mid-1870s and eventually reaching two million by the 20th century.
Reforms continued into the early 1900s with Parliament introducing legislation to aid the working class, including better working conditions and the cessation of child labor. The involvement of labor unions had a profound impact, aiding workers in securing higher wages and shorter work hours, while also inspiring literary criticism of industrial conditions from notable figures like William Blake and Charles Dickens.