Chapter 22Part 3

The Industrial Revolution

On the Continent

Continental Europe began to industrialize after 1815…the final defeat of Napoleon

In the 1780’s parts of the continent were not too far behind Britain Some regions had thriving cottage

industries Some British manufacturing techniques

were copied by certain Continental countries

The Napoleonic Wars

Interfered with Continental industrial development

Wars disrupted trade, created runaway inflation, and reduced consumer demand

Continental access to British machinery and technology was reduced by the Continental System

By 1815

British technology was too far advanced for most continental engineers and skilled technicians to understand

The technology of steam power was expensive and required vast amounts of capital

Wars caused a shortage of factory workers

Landowners and government officials did little to encourage industrial growth

After 1815

The Continent began to catch up

They studied Britain’s costly mistakes and avoided them

Each country was different

Began in the second decade of the 19th century: Belgium, Holland, France and the U.S.

Began in the mid-19th century: Germany, Austria, Italy

Began at the end of the 19th century: Eastern Europe and Russia

Other Countries

Borrowed British technology Hired British engineers Gained British capital

They used the power of strong sovereign central governments and banking systems to promote native industries

Belgium

In the 1830’s pioneered the organization of big corporations with many stockholders

Banks used money to develop industries and gave rise to Industrial Banks

Banks in Germany and France

1850’s involved in developing railroads and companies involved in heavy industries

Credit Moblier of Paris was the most famous industrial Bank

Built railroads in France, Europe and (Remember the Grant scandals?)...the U.S.

Britain tried and failed

To maintain a monopoly on technical advances

Until 1825 it was illegal for artisans and skilled mechanics to leave Britain!

Until 1843 it was illegal to export textile machinery and equipment

But many emigrated illegally, memorized plans for machinery and took it elsewhere

Tariffs

Were used by continental countries to protect their native industries

France enacted high tariffs on British imports

It had been flooded by inexpensive and superior British goods

The Zollverein 1834

Was a German Tariff used to encourage investment in German industry

It also established a free trade zone among member states (in the German Confederation) and a single uniform tariff was levied against foreign countries

NOTE: This was a Prussian economic organization that left Austria out

The Result

Increased production and availability of manufactured goods on the continent

The Industrial Revolution’s Impact on Society

A new social order replaced the traditional social hierarchy

The Proletariat: a new class of factory workers

The Bourgeoisie: Two levels emerged: Upper Bourgeoisie: great bankers,

merchants, industrialists who demanded free enterprise and high tariffs

The Petite Bourgeoisie: small industrialists, merchants, professionals who demanded security and stability from the government

New Opportunities

Artisans and skilled workers who were talented were in great demand and could achieve significant success

Certain ethnic and religious groups became successful: Quakers and Scots in England Protestants and Jews dominated

banking in France

As factories grew larger

Opportunities for advancement declined in well-developed industries

Capital-intensive industry made it harder for skilled artisans to become wealthy manufacturers

Formal education became even more importantas a means of social advancement BUT cost of the education was often prohibitive

Also

In England and Germany by 1860 leading industrialists were more likely to have inherited their businesses

Proletariat Wage Earners

During the first century of the industrial revolution a surplus of labor resulted in poor conditions for workers

Few holidays Often 14-hour work days Conditions were brutal and unsafe Low wages…especially for women

and children

Poorhouses

Provided work for those who were unemployed

Beatings and ill treatment Major goal of the poorhouses was to

persuade workers to leave the poorhouse and find work elsewhere

Friedrich Engles 1820-1895

1844 The Condition of the Working Class in England

Blamed the middle class for exploiting the proletariat

Will later become a revolutionary and collaborated with Karl Marx

Marx

Had similar ideas about the middle class exploiting the proletariat:

“I charge the English middle classes with mass murder, wholesale robbery, and all the other crimes in the calendar.”

Later…socialism NOTE: Marx called the French Revolution

inevitable

A struggle between labor and capital

Resulted from issues of working conditions, wages, quality of life

BUT the long-term impact of the Industrial Revolution was more favorable than negative

Material prosperity increased

Because cheaper high-quality goods were available

Increased consumption led to increased numbers of jobs

Wages (in England)

1790-1820: wages up only 5% 1820-1850: real wages and

consumption up 50%

Skilled British workers earned twice that of unskilled workers in agriculture

BUT the average work week increased

Workers

Ate better and quality and quantity of clothing improved

Housing was worse than cottage industry times

Only AFTER 1850 did workers share in the wealth produced in the Industrial Revolution in Continental Europe 2-3 decades earlier for English

The Luddites (Northern England)

A violent group of irate workers who blamed industrialism for threatening their jobs

Beginning in 1812 attacked factories in northern England and destroyed new machinery that they believed was putting them out of work

The Union Movement

Factory owners DID try to block unions

BUT leaders emerged to organize groups of workers to resist exploitation of business owners

Parliament’s Response

Combination Acts 1799:

Parliament prohibited labor unions Was a reaction inspired by fear of

something like the French Revolution occurring in England

Combination Acts were ignored by most workers

They were repealed in 1824 and unions became a fact of life by 1825 (were tolerated)

Robert Owen 1771-1858 1834 Created the Grand National

Consolidated Trades Union

Was a Scottish industrialist who pioneered industrial relations by combining firm discipline with a real concern for the health, safety, work hours of the workers…efforts eventually failed

He also established a school for his workers’ children at his own expense

Some experimented

With utopian communities

First “union” concessions went to craft unions who won benefits for their members through fairly conservative means

The Chartists

Wanted to gain labor concessions through political democracy

Demanded universal male suffrage

Most Unions

Worked for a 10-hour day AND the repeal of the Corn Laws

Eventually better wages and hours and conditions due to: Union action General Prosperity Social conscience