Module 6 The Industrial Revolution and Society 1750–1914

1. Module 6 The Industrial Revolution and Society 1750–1914

2. Explaining the Industrial Revolution • a great acceleration in the rate of technological innovation, leading to enormous increases in the output of goods and services - new energy sources, increased energy output, a culture of innovation • Why Europe? • Before 1750 the major Eurasian civilizations were about equal technologically • greatest breakthrough was the steam engine • Patterns of European development favored innovation • European rulters had unusual alliance with merchant classes (contrast China, Japan, Ottomans) • contact with culturally different peoples encouraged change and innovation • Americas provided silver, raw materials, foods 2. Why Britain? • most commercialized of Europe’s larger countries • Small farmers pushed off land (enclosure movement), move to cities: ready supply of workers • Guilds mostly disappear • Aristocrats interested in commerce, • Commerce is worldwide, British East India/West India companies • British political life encourages economic innovation • Religious toleration, tariffs to protect business, easy to form companies, unified internal market (canal and road system) • Limitations on royal authority offers more freedom for private enterprise • Emphasis of Scientific Revolution different in Britain • Plenty of coal, iron and easy access • Britain not devasted by Napoleonic wars

6. The First Industrial Society • The British Aristocracy • Declines because centers of urban wealth becomes more important • Businessmen lead major political parties by 1900, aristocrats less clout • Nobles retain great wealth, social prestige as does the monarchy • Middle Classes • Gain the most from industrialization, some buy into aristocracy • Growing numbers of small businessmen, professionals • Politically liberal: they emphasize thrift, hardwork, morality, cleanliness • Women cast as housewifes, mothers instead of workers • Growing role of service workers—clerks, secretaries—20% of British population(1900) • Laboring Classes (70% of British in 19th century) • Suffered most, benefitted least from industrialization • London as largest city in world by 1900 • Unsanitary living conditions, crowding, epidemics, crime, with few public service • Factories: long hours, low wages, child labor, women work • Routine and monotony of work, with direct supervision was new • Social Protest • Skilled artisans begin to organize, at first in “friendly societies” to assist each other • Workers begin to join political movements to gain greater rights • Trade unions legalized in Great Britain, 1824—fight for better wages, working conditions

10. Socialist ideas begin to spread • Karl Marx lays out full ideology, analyzing society as comprising owners of captial and exploited workers • British working-class movement remains moderate, standard of living increases by 1900 • Economic inequality remains (the British class system continues through 20th century) • Comparing Industrialization in US and Russia • By 1900,  industrialization had broadly similar outcomes wherever it was established:  • aristocratic, artisanal, and peasant classes declined  • middle-class women withdrew from paid labor altogether • trade unions and socialist movements established • The United States: Industrialization without Socialism   • American industrialization began with New England textiles (1820s) • explosive growth after the Civil War • by 1914, the United States was the world’s leading industrial power • Capital investment in US comes from Europe, U.S. government, entrepreneurs • absence of overt regulation   • pioneering of mass production techniques   • creation of a “culture of consumption” through advertising, catalogs, department stores  • Social division continue: growing gap between rich/poor, slums, labor protest • Growth of populism, progressive political movements from 1900 onward • Russian Industrialization / Revolution • Russia as absolute monarchy, no national parliament, no legal political parties • Titled nobility dominate, serfs (rural peasants) the majority of population

14. Russian Industrial Revolution was launched by the 1890s  • focused on railroads and heavy industry • substantial foreign investment  • industry was concentrated in a few major cities, large factories   • growing middle class disliked Russia’s deep conservatism • Russian working class rapidly radicalized  •  harsh conditions     •  no legal outlet for grievances    •  large-scale strikes  • Insurrection breaks out in 1905, after Russia defeated by Japan • Moscow/St. Petersburg workers go on strike, create representative councils (“soviets”) • peasant uprisings, student demonstrations • non-Russian nationalities revolted • military mutiny • brutally suppressed, but forced the tsar’s regime to make reforms—fails to bring stability • World War I provided the revolutionary moment • Russian Revolution broke out in 1917, brought the most radical to power: Bolsheviks • only in Russia did industrialization lead to violent social revolution • The Industrial Revolution and Latin America in the Nineteenth Century • The four vice-royalties of Spanish America became eighteen separate countries • international wars hindered development of the new nations • Political life unstable, conservative forces backed by church were strong • Military strongmen (caudillos) gained power, worked in conjunction with US/European corporations to develop extractive economies (agricultural—coffee, sugar, rubber, etc) using low paid labor

15. Slavery abolished (though not until late 1880s in Brazil and Cuba) • most legal distinctions between racial categories were abolished • but creole whites remained overwhelmingly in control • small middle class allowed social mobility for a few • the vast majority were impoverished Facing the World Economy • after 1850: greater stability, integration into world economy • rapid growth of Latin American exports to industrializing countries • exported food products and raw materials • Becoming like Europe? • rapid population increase • rapid urbanization • actively sought European immigrants • few people benefited from the export boom--over 90 percent of the population still lower-class • Revolution in Mexico • overthrow of the dictator Porfirio Díaz (1876–1911) leads to major, bloody conflict (1910–1920 • huge peasant armies • transformed Mexico • rich landowners and cattlemen vs peasants and urban poor • economic growth was dependent on Europe and North America History and Horse Races: Who’s first, who’s superior