Industrial Revolution Overview

Industrial Revolution vs. Agricultural Revolution

• The Industrial Revolution, unlike the Agricultural Revolution, began independently in only one place (Western Europe, specifically Great Britain).
• The Agricultural Revolution occurred thousands of years earlier.

Beginning of the Industrial Revolution

• Began in Western Europe, specifically Great Britain.

Industrial Revolution Effects

• Environmental impact: Extensive extraction of non-renewable resources (coal, iron ore, petroleum) significantly altered landscapes. Waste discharged into rivers, air pollution from coal, and resulting respiratory illnesses increased. This led to the concept of the Anthropocene (the age of man).
• Increased output: The Industrial Revolution resulted in a massive increase in goods and services, roughly 50 times greater in Britain.
• Key breakthrough: The coal-fired steam engine provided an unprecedented, virtually limitless power source beyond wind, water, muscle, or existing machines.
• Focused industries: Iron, steel production, railroads, steamships, food processing, and construction.
• Second Industrial Revolution focused industries: Chemicals, electricity, precision machinery, telegraph, telephone, rubber, printing, etc.

Why Europe?

• No prior economic advantage: Europe did not possess an economic lead over other regions.
• Factor propelling industrialization in Europe: Certain internal development patterns favored innovation. Small, competitive economies prevented stagnation unlike larger empires.
• European factors leading to innovation: Newness of European states, rulers' need for revenue (in the absence of effective bureaucracy) creating unusual alliances with merchant classes.
• Facilitating factors: Contact with different regions (India, China, Americas) aided industrialization. Indian textiles spurred British innovation, while Chinese porcelain and Japanese lacquerware influenced European imitations; the Americas provided silver, timber, fish, maize, potatoes, and later, crucial cotton (from enslaved labor) & sugar.

Why Britain?

• High commercialization: Britain was the most commercially advanced European nation due to its imperial holdings. Access to American food, profits, and calories from colonies played a significant role.
• Agricultural improvements: Crop rotation, selective breeding, lighter plows, and high-yield seeds resulted in increased agricultural output and low food prices, freeing up labor for industries.
• Decreased guild influence & growing population: Removal of guilds and rising population provided a readily available workforce.
• Aristocratic involvement: British aristocrats invested in mining and manufacturing, extending their influence and interests worldwide. Britain's large merchant fleet was protected by a strong royal navy.
• Religious tolerance: Britain's religious tolerance attracted skilled individuals regardless of their faith.
• Favorable tariff laws: Favored businesses, restricted cheap Indian textiles, eased company formation, hindered labor unions, and developed a unified internal market via roads and canals.
• Patent laws: Protected investors.
• Parliamentary government: Provided a free environment for private enterprise.
• British Royal Society: Natural philosophers (scientists) aimed to promote practical knowledge. Dissemination through public lectures and materials.
• Geography: Availability of coal and iron ore in close proximity to important industrial centres. Island location shielded it from invasions. Abundant water resources aided transportation.

First Industrial Society

• A. British Aristocracy: The impact of the Industrial Revolution on the British aristocracy varied. While some faced declining importance, others continued to play a significant role.
• B. Middle Classes: The middle class benefited significantly from the Industrial Revolution, becoming the most influential group. The middle-class culture developed distinctive characteristics.
  • Middle-class women: Experienced limitations in roles outside the home. However, opportunities for education and employment outside of the home emerged, albeit limited compared to men.
  • Children: Childhood was affected by the growing need for educated workers needed for industrial economies, leading to changes in childhood experiences.
  • Lower middle class: Professionals, skilled artisans, and salespeople comprised the lower middle class. Clerks, salespeople, common jobs included.
• C. Laboring Classes: A large portion of the British population, often residing in unsanitary industrial cities experiencing poor living conditions and factory working conditions. Many women from working-class backgrounds often worked outside of the home for wage income.
  • Women in textile mills: Textile mill owners prioritized employing women due to their lower wage demands.
  • Working women after marriage: Even after marriage, some working-class women continued to earn income to support their families.
• D. Social Protest: Workers used various methods to improve their working conditions and wages, a phenomenon which prompted social issues and new ideologies.
  • Capitalism: an economic system emphasizing private ownership and markets.
  • Socialism: an economic theory emphasizing community ownership and control of resources and manufacturing.
  • Marxism: Karl Marx predicted that industrial capitalism would eventually give way to socialism.
  • Social democracy vs. communism: Social democracy advocated for gradual change; communism sought revolutionary overthrow.
  • Positive reforms: Capitalism, following societal discontent, saw improvements in worker safety, wages, and working conditions.
  • Britain's early industrialization drawback: Britain's early position presented disadvantages as others caught up, perhaps causing potential economic challenges.
• E. Europeans in Motion: Millions of Europeans migrated across the globe.
  • Push factors: Included poverty, famine, and political instability.
  • Pull factors: Included economic opportunities, land ownership, religious freedom, and political asylum.
  • Migration destinations: North America, South America, and parts of Asia.
  • Immigration perception: Immigrants were often seen with suspicion or hostility in their new countries.
  • Migration to Russia: Factors influenced immigration, such as economic opportunities or land ownership.

Variations on a Theme

• A. United States: Factors leading the U.S. becoming a major industrial power
• Government policies that aided business development and mass production technologies were used.
• United States Working Class Response: Poor working conditions caused discontent among workers.
• Alternative political parties: Led to the emergence of new political parties advocating for change.
• B. Russia:
• Russian political structure: Autocracy governed by a tsar.
• Russian social structure: A society marked by large disparities concerning wealth and influence.
• Initiators of change: The tsar initiated changes.
• 1905 Russian revolution: Workers' strikes triggered by poor conditions led to a revolution creating political shift.
• Post-Revolution 1905 reforms: Political reforms followed.
• Persistance of discontent: The tsarist reforms were not lasting, and future discontent remained.
• Socialist Party: A major socialist party, led by a specific individual, emerged.

Industrial Revolution and Latin America

• Unique industrialization: Latin America underwent large-scale industrialization.
• A. After independence: Challenges included economic and political concerns; newly created nations confronted issues in political structure.
• Defining caudillos: A specific Latin American political leader from a certain era.
• Changes & Continuities in Latin American society: Societal shifts and continuity from the past during the period.
• Definition of haciendas: A large landed estate used for agriculture.
• B. Facing the world economy: Latin American nations heavily exported raw materials and imported finished products. This led to economic dependence.
• C. Becoming like Europe? Latin American countries recruited European immigrants, shaped by poor conditions and influence from the Mexican Revolution (1910).
• Reasons for lack of industrial development: Latin America failed to develop its own industrial revolution; still heavily reliant on Europe and the US.

Reflections

• 'First' development interpretation: Focusing on who developed something first can be misleading. Other countries were developing simultaneously.