第10章工業化世界の生活と労働Life and Labor in the Industrial World

During the Second Industrial Revolution, life in industrialized nations changed dramatically. The electrified, mechanized workplace meant long hours and low wages for unskilled factory workers. Work was often dangerous and unemployment precarious. Nevertheless, industrialization did bring benefits. Mass-produced consumer goods were priced so that by the end of the nineteenth century, members of the working class could afford to purchase less-expensive versions of items that had once been available only to the middle and wealthy classes. The mechanization of agriculture and the development of refrigerated railroad cars made food more available and less expensive. Improved sanitation and medical advances reduced infant mortality and increased adults’ life expectancies. Important demographic changes took place at the same time. By the end of the nineteenth century, both middle-class and working-class families were having fewer children as laws restricting child labor and mandating education made it more difficult to employ children.

第二次産業革命の間、工業国の生活は劇的に変わった。電化・機械化された職場は、非熟練の工場労働者に長時間労働と低賃金をもたらした。仕事は危険なことが多く、失業は生活を不安定にした。それでも、工業化は確かに利益ももたらした。大量生産の消費財は、19世紀末までに労働者階級にも買える価格になり、かつて中産階級や富裕層しか持てなかった品の安価な型を買えた。農業の機械化と冷蔵貨車の開発で、食料は入手しやすく安くなった。衛生と医療の進歩は乳児死亡率を下げ、大人の平均寿命を延ばした。同時に重要な人口上の変化も起きた。児童労働の制限と教育の義務化によって子供を働かせにくくなり、19世紀末までに中産階級も労働者階級も、持つ子供の数を減らしていた。