What was the Factory Act of 1833?

The Factory Act of 1833 was a significant piece of legislation aimed at improving working conditions for children in factories during the Industrial Revolution. It marked a pivotal moment in labor reform, responding to the growing awareness of the harsh realities faced by child workers in textile mills and other industrial settings.

The Act introduced several key provisions, including limiting the hours that children could work and requiring factory inspections to ensure compliance. For instance, it mandated a minimum age for child workers and set restrictions on working hours according to age groups, thus aiming to protect children from exploitation and hazardous work environments. This reform was part of a broader movement to address social problems arising from rapid industrialization, where the welfare of children was prioritized over merely maximizing production and efficiency.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary focus of the Factory Act of 1833. While it certainly aimed to improve conditions, it did not allow unlimited working hours nor completely eliminate child labor, as child labor continued to persist after the Act's implementation, albeit under more regulated conditions.