What is scientific management and how did it affect the factory workers in 19th century industrial AMerica?

Scientific management, also known as Taylorism, was a management theory developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It aimed to improve industrial efficiency by breaking down tasks into smaller, standardized components and optimizing workflows to minimize wasted effort. Here's how scientific management affected factory workers in 19th century industrial America:

1. Work Specialization: Scientific management emphasized dividing complex tasks into simple, repetitive actions. Workers were assigned specific, specialized tasks based on their abilities, leading to increased efficiency on the assembly line.

2. Efficiency and Productivity: Taylor's time-and-motion studies sought to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in work processes. By refining production methods and reducing unnecessary movements, factory owners aimed to increase overall productivity.

3. Intensified Workloads: The focus on efficiency often led to increased workloads and faster production rates. Workers faced higher physical demands and time pressure to meet production quotas.

4. Monotony and Alienation: Repetitive and highly specialized tasks could become monotonous and unsatisfying for workers, leading to a sense of alienation and disconnection from their work.

5. Loss of Craft Skills: Scientific management reduced the need for skilled craftworkers by breaking down tasks into simple, repeatable actions. This led to a decline in traditional craftsmanship and workers' pride in their work.

6. Physical Strain and Health Issues: Increased workloads, repetitive motions, and time pressure could lead to physical strain, muscle injuries, and exhaustion among factory workers.

7. Unions and Labor Movements: The negative effects of scientific management, coupled with poor working conditions, contributed to the rise of labor unions and movements advocating for workers' rights, better pay, and improved working conditions.

8. Worker Opposition and Resistance: Many factory workers resisted scientific management due to its dehumanizing effects and perceived exploitation. Workers used various strategies, including slowdowns, strikes, and sabotage, to challenge the oppressive nature of scientific management.