It's now accepted fact that working conditions in the factories in 19th-century England and Europe were inhumane, leading to death and despair for countless workers. But how did those conditions and the length of the working day come to be regulated? In Das Kapital, Karl Marx depicts the working class struggle that led to passage of the Ten Hours' Act and the various Factory Acts, with an emphasis on the concept of time as crucial to capitalists' profit. What's being done to seek economic justice today? Think about the present by looking at the past.
Questions About Justice and Judgment
- Look at the history of working class struggle through labor unions. Do you know anyone who is a member of a union? Ask him or her how the union helps workers, if it does. How would Marx describe labor unions?
- What would Marx say encourages people to seek economic justice? What factors influence people to do so? Consider the declining membership of labor unions. Are people satisfied with their working lives now?
- What were the basic injustices workers fought against in 19th-century Europe? How did workers win passage of laws improving working conditions and limiting the length of the working day? What economic injustices exist today, and what are people doing about them?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
A strong working-class movement is necessary in order to improve the lives of laborers.
Other methods of improving the lives of laborers are more important than a strong working-class movement.