Me
what does this passage illustrate about the historical context the author experienced while it was written?
the principle of the factory system then is, to substitute mechanical science for hand skill, and the partition of a process into it's essential constituent, for the division or graduation of labour among artisans. on the handicraft plan, labour more or less skilled was usually the most expensive element of production. but ok the automatic plan, skilled labour gets progressively superseded, and will eventually be replaced by mere overlooks or machines.
it is in fact the constant aim and tendency of every improvement in machinery to supersede human labour altogether, or to diminish its cost, by substituting the industry of women and children for that of men; or that of ordinary laborers for trained artisans. the effect of substituting the self acting mule for the common mules is to retain adolescent and children. the proprietor of a factory near stockport states, in evidence to the commissioners that by such substitutions he would save 501. a week in wages in consequence of dispensing with nearly forty male spinners, at about 25s. of wages each.
a.) artisans were using technology to produce higher-quality goods.
b.) technology was reducing the demand for skilled laborers
c.) wages were increasing at technology improves the economy
d.)women and children had become less valued as employees