Industrialization Spreads

Industrialization Spreads Chapter 25, Section 3 pp. 643-646

Setting the Stage • Britain’s favorable location, geography, financial systems, political stability, and natural resources sparked its industrialization • They began mass-producing textiles and other goods by the late 1700s. • Labor-saving machines produced huge profits for wealthy business leaders

Industrial Development in the U.S. • U.S. possessed the same resources as G.B. • Plentiful rivers, rich deposits of coal and iron ore, and a steady supply of immigrant laborers • U.S. industrialization began with textiles and soon spread to clothing and shoe manufacturing. • In 1813, Francis Cabot Lowell and others revolutionized the textile industry by mechanizing every stage in the manufacturing of cloth • Lowell, MA became the center of the industry and the model for other towns to follow

Women in the Workforce • 1000s of young single women flocked from their rural homes to work as mill girls in factory towns • They worked for 6 days a week, 12 hours daily

Expansion of U.S. Industry • Large industrial growth in the Northeast in the early 1800s • Rest of the U.S. remained an agricultural nation until after U.S. Civil War ended • Afterwards, the country experienced a technological boom due to several factors:

Technological Boom • Vast amounts of natural resources: • Oil • Coal • Iron • Inventions • Light bulb • Telephone • Swelling urban population for workers

Role of the Railroad • Played a major role in Britain and U.S. industrialization • Cities like Chicago and Minneapolis thrived due to their proximity to rail lines • Railroads themselves were profitable businesses • By end of 1800s, 2/3 of railroad tracks in U.S. were controlled by a few companies

Role of the Railroad • 1840- there were only 2,818 miles of railroad track in the United States • 1890 - 208,152 miles of track

Corporations • A business owned by stockholders who share in its profits, but are not personally responsible for its debts • In late 1800s, large corporations were started • Standard Oil—founded by John D. Rockefeller • Carnegie Steel Company—Andrew Carnegie

Industrialization in Continental Europe • Britain’s model took time to reach rest of Europe due to: • French Revolution • Napoleonic Wars 1789-1815 • Belgium, Germany, were main beneficiaries • France, Spain, Italy, Russia also industrialized

Belgium • Rich deposits of iron and coal allowed Belgium to lead Europe in adopting the British model • Secret plans were brought to Belgium by an Englishman named William Cockerill

Germany • Empire was politically divided • Economic isolation and scattered resources slowed industrialization • After 1835, they imported British equipment and engineers • Sent German children to Britain to learn industrial management

Analysis • What factors slowed industrialization in Germany?

Worldwide Impact of Industrialization • Global Inequality • Transformation of Society

Global Inequality • Industrialization widened the gap between industrialized and non-industrialized countries • Britain began exploiting its overseas colonies for resources and markets • Japan, Russia, U.S. followed Britain’s lead, seizing colonies for their economic resources

Imperialism • The policy of extending one’s rule over many other lands • This gave even more power and wealth to already wealthy nations • The practice of imperialism grew out of industrialization— • Constant need for resources and markets

Analysis • Why did imperialism grow out of industrialization?

Transformation of Society • Between 1700 and 1900, revolutions in agriculture, production, transportation, and communication changed the lives of people in Western Europe and the U.S. • Europe gained tremendous economic power • Economies of Asia and Africa were still based on agriculture and small workshops

Transformation of Society, cont. • Population, health, wealth all rose dramatically in industrialized countries • Development of middle class • Greater democratic participation

Industrialization Spreads