The Industrial Revolution. What was the industrial revolution?
The Industrial Revolution
description
Transcript of The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution1750-1914
What was the Industrial Revolution? great acceleration in rate of technological innovation,
leading to an enormously increased output of goods & services
new sources of energy a culture of innovation
widespread & almost obsessive belief that things could be endlessly improved
put W.Europe into position of global dominance only nations that industrialized had chance to
compete w/ W.Europe spread unevenly & is a continuing process
“developed”, “developing”, “undeveloped” nations
Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in Western Europe?
preceded by Scientific Revolution
numerous small, competitive states
governments supported merchant class govts needed revenue they provided encourage innovation & commerce
global contact w/culturally different people bring back foreign goods as stimulus▪ ex. Indian cotton cloth, Chinese porcelain
can draw on world’s natural resources
Why did it begin in Britain?
unplanned & unexpected, c1750
factors of production were ideal large labor force (unemployed farmers)▪ farmlands “enclosed” & agricultural innovations
infrastructure: road & canal networks geographic luck▪ coal & iron ore, protection from conquest stability
global empire provided natural resources
government pro-capitalist limited monarchy
Industrialization spreads from Britain in early 1800s
Britain
Germany, France, Belgium
USA
Industrial Society
JAMES WATT’S STEAM ENGINE
constant innovation
THE POWER LOOM
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE
THE STEAMBOAT
Rapid Economic Growth
1800 1 ton of coal 50, 000 miners
1850 30 tons 200, 000 miners
1880 300 million tons 500, 000 miners
1914 250 million tons 1, 200, 000 miners
Coal Mining Output & Laborers in Britain: 1800-1914
British Pig Iron Production: 1750-
1870British Cotton Textile Production:1800: 52,000,000 lbs. cotton used1850: 588,000,000 lbs cotton used
Rise of the Railroad: 1840-1900
Leng
th o
f Rai
lroad
Lin
es O
pen
(in k
ilom
eter
s)
Changing Social Classes The Aristocracy
owned most farmland & dominated politics
rivaled by industrialized businessmen
many became settlers or administrators in overseas colonies
The Middle Class Self-made factory & mine owners, bankers,
merchants live aristocratic life central value = respectability
Changing Social Classes The Laboring Class
manual workers impacted most by new
urbanization▪ majority of British population in
cities▪ overcrowded, unsanitary, periodic
epidemics, tenement housing, inadequate water supply, few public services
factory system: workers produce manufactured goods in one place using
machines for regular wage long hours, low wages, monotonous labor, dangerous children & young women oftentimes used
Industrial Staffordshire, England
The Silent Highwayman, 1858
Stereotype of the Factory Owner
Challenging the New Social Order
Luddites movement for working
man’s vote women’s rights &
suffrage movement trade unions develop socialist & utopian
ideals form & spread challenge capitalist
society & social problems it developed
“Marxism”
Communism: Rethinking Industrial Society
Communism (“Marxism”) Karl Marx The Communist Manifesto, 1848▪ history is the story of class struggle▪ oppressor vs. oppressed▪ bourgeoisie vs. proletariat
▪ Marx’s observations: ▪ under capitalism, the industrial workers are exploited by their
bosses▪ Goal of communism? ▪ Abolish capitalism & class system!
▪ How? ▪ Revolution of workers & redistribute wealth evenly▪ No private property; all is shared in the workers’ paradise!