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1750-1914. The Industrial Revolution. What was the Industrial Revolution?. g reat acceleration in rate of technological innovation, leading to an enormously increased output of goods & services n ew sources of energy a culture of innovation
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1750-1914 The Industrial Revolution
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 • constant innovation STEAM LOCOMOTIVE JAMES WATT’S STEAM ENGINE THE POWER LOOM THE STEAMBOAT
Rapid Economic Growth British Pig Iron Production: 1750-1870 • British Cotton Textile Production: • 1800: 52,000,000 lbs. cotton used • 1850: 588,000,000 lbs cotton used Coal Mining Output & Laborers in Britain: 1800-1914
Rise of the Railroad: 1840-1900 Length of Railroad Lines Open (in kilometers)
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
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!