Background information: friedrich engels was a german socialist whose family was wealthy cotton manufacturers. when he was twenty-two, he was sent to work at the family factory in manchester, england. this excerpt is from his book,the condition of the working class in england, which was published in 1844. what is the main idea of this passage? industrialization has created poor working and living conditions for the people. mass production has created perfection in manchester. steam-power machinery has led to the degradation of the environment. the working classes of manchester have developed most freely and perfectly.