The Industrial Revolution, workers' rights and the development of trade union movements

This thesis aims to examine the transformations in labor structure and industrial relations caused by the Industrial Revolution and to uncover the historical foundations of modern labor rights. The Industrial Revolution, which began in England in the late 18th century and rapidly spread across Europe and beyond, drastically altered the means of production while also giving rise to a new social class—the working class. During this transformation, workers faced long working hours, low wages, unsafe working conditions, and a lack of union representation, leading to a socio-political environment centered around labor-based struggle. The study explores the relationship between the socio-economic conditions of the period and labor rights from a historical-sociological perspective, with a focus on England, France, Germany, and other industrialized nations. Key issues such as child labor, women's labor, the right to strike, unionization, social security systems, and working hours are addressed in detail. The thesis argues that the Industrial Revolution was not merely a technical shift, but a structural transformation in labor regimes, laying the groundwork for labor law and welfare state practices. Through historical document analysis and comparative legal methods, the thesis examines the evolution of labor rights into universal legal norms. Early labor legislation, the emergence of trade union movements, and the role of international organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) are discussed extensively. In conclusion, the Industrial Revolution is evaluated as both a foundational moment and a set of challenging conditions in the historical development of labor rights. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the rights-based transformation of labor.