The Industrial Revolution1700-1900

The Spread of the Industrial Revolution

-The rest of Europe was slow to industrialize because the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars halted trade, interrupted communication, and caused inflation

-Belgium led the way in adopting Britain’s new methods of manufacturing goods*rich deposits of iron and coal*waterways for transportation

-William Cockerill smuggled secret plans for building spinning machinery to Belgium in 1799

Germany Industrializes-Lacked countrywide industrialization

-rather pockets of industrialization sprung upex: coal-rich Ruhr Valley of west-central Germany

-beginning around 1835 Germany began to copy the British model-imported English equipment and engineers

-built railroads that linked growing manufacturing cities to one anotherex: Frankfurt with the Ruhr Valley

-by the late 1800s Germany had become an industrial and militaristic giant-foreshadows future world wars

Expansion throughout Europe-proceeded by region rather than by country

-Examples:-Bohemia developed its spinning

industry-Spain’s Catalonia processed cotton-Northern Italy specialized in silk

-France industrialized after 1850 when the central government constructed railroads

-Some nations did not industrialize-Ex: Austria-Hungary

City Growth

Inventions:The Spinning Jenny

The Cotton Gin: by Eli Whitney

John Kay’s Flying Shuttle

Watt’s Steam Engine

Impact of the Steam Engine• The steam engine was the most important

industrial invention • Aside from the ability to create tools and other

useful items, the steam engine powered the railroads– The Rocket: 16 mi/hr– Created large national markets for shipping

goods.– Reduced the cost of shipping

• 20% of industrial made products in the world came from England.

Population Boom• England experienced a population boom in cities

(urbanization) due to the availability of jobs.• Historians today view the pop. boom as positive

because it promoted industrial growth.• Critics:

– Thomas Malthus: believed pop. Increase outgrew food. Society would need famine/war/disease to check the growth.

– David Ricardo: believed too many workers would drive down wages. Called “iron law of wages”

Government Support• Many governments throughout Europe financially

supported industrialization.– Offered tariff (tax) protection– Funded railroad production– Governments wanted their countries to be modern

so that they could keep up with the rest of Europe.– European nations like Germany, followed

Economic Nationalism• A policy dedicated to protecting industry in the

nation. Taxed foreign made goods so that people would only buy nationally made good.

Factory Life and Child Labor

Factory System• Factories were unsanitary

and equipment was unsafe

• People worked long hours (14+ hours a day/6 days week)

• Workers received very poor wages (especially women & children)

• Severe discipline by factory owners

• Coal miners lifespan was generally 10 years shorter on average

Child Labor• Children as young as

6 were forced to work 12-14 hours a day

• Received very short breaks if any

• Were beaten if they stopped working or got too tired.

• Operated large heavy machinery-often injured or killed children

“Kids at Work”

The Industrial Revolution1700-1900

Coal Miners