What did the Factory Acts of 1802 aim to address?

The Factory Acts of 1802 were primarily concerned with regulating the working conditions of children in factories, particularly cotton mills. This legislation was among the early efforts to improve workplace health and safety by addressing the significant issues of child labor during the Industrial Revolution. It recognized the detrimental effects of long hours and harsh working environments on the health and well-being of young workers.

By establishing regulations regarding the hours children could work and ensuring that they were provided with some level of education, the acts aimed to mitigate the detrimental health impacts associated with long working hours and unhealthy working conditions. This marked a pivotal step in labor reform, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable young workers.