So, the market forces of supply and demand continued to drive labor practices despite attempts at government reform. Some experts, however, do believe there was some reduction in the number of young working children and reduced labor hours.

What labor reforms came out of these investigations?

Following the investigations, a series of Factory Acts were passed to reform labor practices over many years. The first three were the Factory Act of 1833, the Factory Act of 1844 and the Factory Act of 1847. The Factory Act of 1833 limed hours of employment for women and children in textile work with the following provisions:

Young people (ages 13-18) must not work more than 10 hours a day.

Children (ages 9-13) must not work more than 9 hours (48 hours per week).

Children (ages 9-13) must have two hours of education per day.

Later, the Factory Act of 1844, also applicable to...
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