The Effects of the Industrial Revolution on the Industrial Proletariat

1. The Effects of the Industrial Revolution on the Industrial Proletariat

2. Industrial Revolution in Britain • The Industrial Revolution has been very controversial in relation to its time period and occurrence in Britain; however, regardless of when or if it happened, something occurred that developed a need for working classes and a class of people to rule those laboring classes.

3. Britain’s New Class Structure • Introduced to Britain were new classes of workers, the industrial proletariats, and a new class of rulers, the industrial entrepreneurs.

4. New Classes • These new classes have been discussed in works of David Cannadine, E.P. Thompson, Frederick Engels, and Charles Booth.

5. Booth Poverty Map

6. “Hard Times” by Charles Dickens • Dickens’ “Hard Times” discussed the mechanization of human beings which can be seen through out the book from Gradgrind’s children to the ‘Hands’.

7. Inequalities Develop • The Industrial Revolution developed inequalities in areas such as living locations, wealth, and working conditions that further divided and also dehumanized society.

8. England Switching From an Individualistic Hierarchy • Britain developed a more dichotomous structure between the ‘haves’, the bourgeoisie which were replacing the landed aristocrats, and the lower working classes which were referred to as the ‘have nots’.

9. Summary • The adoption of a utilitarian system of ethics combined with the industrialization of Britain led to exploited, mechanized working classes that were too fragmented to produce a change in harsh working conditions and overcome the power held by the new bourgeoisie.