An Essay On The First Factory Act Of 1802

The Factory Act of 1802 was the result of the Industrial Revolution and also it was the first factory legislation in the history of both Britain and world. To a certain extent, it improved the working environment of apprentice in the early 19 th century, limiting the working timing of apprentices. At the same times, it curbed infectious fever raging again, and provided educational opportunities for apprentices. Because of the limit of the unique historical background, this act lacking fairness and effective supervision system; and was always suffering criticism in its actual utility.Although influenced by numerous factors, the Factory Act of 1802 was still the beginning of the Labor legislation in the whole era of the Industrial Revolution. It opened up a new era which countries had begun to ease the contradiction between the factory owners and workers in legislative form. After the formulating of the act, the working-class movement was flourishing which had laid a solid foundation for the working class to fight for their rights and get the protection of the law. In addition, many terms of the act were inherited by the later legislation; for example, the terms of limiting the working timing had been adopted all over the world and the factory supervision system had also been reflected in the future generations of British factory legislation. We can’t define that the national policy of Britain has shifted from the laissez-faire to state intervention, but the enactment of this act continued the tradition of the British Government to commit social responsibility in the economic and social field.