Industrial Revolution Changes

Study Notes

Industrial Revolution Changes

Separation of Work and Living: Work and home life became separate entities due to industrialization, differing from previous combined roles.
Decreased Importance of Rural Life: Agriculture and farming lost importance compared to factory work, leading to a decline in rural life and an increase in urban population density.
Increased Urbanization: Population shifted from rural areas to urban centers to seek industrial jobs. This resulted in a significant growth of cities.
Strain on Living Conditions: Rapid urban growth outpaced housing construction, creating overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions in rapidly growing cities .
Child Labour and Excessive Working Hours: Children often performed factory work alongside adults for extended hours in dangerous conditions with little regard to worker safety.
Unskilled Labor Increase: The industrial revolution demanded a large workforce, many of whom were unskilled. This led to increased competition for jobs and pressure on wages.
Shift from Home-Based to Factory Production: Hand-crafted goods transitioned to machine-made products, resulting in factories as the dominant production centers.
Exploitation of Workers: Factory owners often prioritized profit over worker safety and well-being . Workers experienced poor compensation, demanding working conditions, and social inequalities.
Social Issues: The industrial revolution worsened social inequalities and created new issues like poverty, disease, and lack of proper housing and healthcare.
Mass migration: People emigrated to industrial towns in search of work. This led to increased population density in already populated cities.
Economic Instability: The move from agricultural to industrial society often involved economic downturns and social problems.

Effects of Industrialization

Agrarian Decline: Farming and related occupations became less dominant as industrial work increased.
Proletarianization: The rise of a working class dependent on wages and lacking ownership of the means of production.
Urban problems: Poor sanitation, overcrowding, and resulting health problems became common in urban centers.
Social Problems: Poverty, disease, and social inequality intensified.
Rise of Social Issues: Issues like child labor, harsh working conditions, and low wages emerged and became major sources of social concern.
Increased Inequality: The divide between the wealthy industrialists and the working class widened, leading to social unrest.
New Social Classes: The industrial revolution created new social classes like industrial owners and factory workers.
Poor Working Conditions: Industrial workplaces often had unsafe conditions, long hours, and low pay, causing social unrest through protests and labour movements.
Rise of Labor Movements: Workers began organizing to demand better wages, working conditions, and rights.