The White Slaves of England

"The White Slaves of England" by John C. Cobden is a critical look at the harsh lives of working-class people in 1800's England. It argues that their suffering is akin to slavery, brought about by an unfair society run by the rich. Cobden paints a stark picture of miners, factory workers, and the rural poor, highlighting the injustices they faced and pushing for big social changes. By sharing real testimonies and strong examples, shows how the system keeps people poor and mistreated. The book starts by pointing out that while Britain claims to be about freedom, many people are actually starving and living in terrible conditions. The author claims that laws that favor the rich cause much of this suffering, trapping working-class people in near-slavery. He shines a bright light on different areas of society, like farming and the use of child labor in mines, to show the deep-rooted problems in British society.