The Factory Acts were a series of Acts passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to limit the number of hours worked by women and children first in the textile industry, then later in all industries.
The factory reform movement spurred the passage of laws to limit the hours that could be worked in factories and mills. The first aim of the movement was for a "ten hours bill" to limit to ten hours the working day of children. Richard Oastler was one of the movement's most prominent leaders.
Read more about Factory Acts: Collective Titles, Factory Act 1802, Cotton Mills, Etc. Act 1819, Labour in Cotton Mills Act 1831, Labour of Children, Etc., in Factories Act 1833, Factories Act 1844, Factory Act 1847, Factory Act 1850, Factory Act 1856, Factory Act 1878, Factory Act 1891, Factory and Workshop Act 1901, Factories Act 1937, Factories Act 1961
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