The Birth of Modern Industrial Society PDF

Context: England Prior To The Industrial Revolution -​ Primarily agrarian economy -​ Cottage industries and small0scale handicraft common -​ Simple tools were used to produce goods -​ Limited environmental impact/consequences of economic activities Industrialization: The change from an...

Context: England Prior To The Industrial Revolution -​ Primarily agrarian economy -​ Cottage industries and small0scale handicraft common -​ Simple tools were used to produce goods -​ Limited environmental impact/consequences of economic activities Industrialization: The change from an agrarian-based(farming) economy to one based on manufacturing and services The Industrial Revolution - Overview -​ Occurred between 1750-1851 -​ Started in England -​ Period of rapid industrialization and technological advancement -​ Agrarian and handicraft economy -> industry and machine manufacturing dominatedthe economy Contributing Factors 1.​ Agricultural changes 2.​ Technological Advancement 3.​ Access to resources and markets Agricultural Changes -​ New Technology and practises (see: Crop rotation, seed drill, selection breeding, etc) -​ Reduced risk of famine from food supplies -​ Increased life expectancy = population explosion Technological Advancement And Consumer Demands -​ New material, new sources of energy, and new machinery (see: steam engine, flying shuttle, water frame, etc) -​ Increased productivity and efficiency in various industries -​ Great demand for cotton products Access to Resources and Markets -​ Easy access to coal and iron ore. Plentiful deposits in Great Britain -​ Proximity of resources to industrial, resources, and workforce -​ Vast colonial empire = access to markets, resources, and workforce The Birth of the Factory Economy - Major Industrial Centres -​ Proximity to power sources (ex: water and coal) -​ Urban centres for the supply of labour/market -​ Transportation system (ex: water, canals and railways) Urbanization -​ Overcoming - pressure on housing, infrastructure, and public services -​ Inadequate housing - Absence of building codes -​ Lack of Sanitation - no/few bathrooms, running water -​ Social problems - social tensions, high crime rates Structure -​ Logical for employers ti gather workers in a single location -​ Factories established in urban areas -​ Reorganization of production by breaking down skilled trades into tasks -​ Employee-employer relationship altered. Depersonalization -​ Skills lost and pay lowered because of a division of labour -​ Exploitation of working-class common Factory Working Conditions -​ Monotonous Repetitive tasks -​ Long hours, low pay, dangerous, conditions, and lack of governmental control -​ Employment of women and young children common Worker Resistance -​ Trade unions formed to protect worker’s rights, improve wages and working hours -​ Engaged in collective bargaining -​ Organized strikes and protests Worker Resistance: Luddism -​ Occurred between 1811-1817 -​ Social movement/form of resistance -​ Northern England -​ Involved machine breaking and factory raids The Industrial Novel -​ Popular form of entertainment and social analysis -​ Depicted social and economic impact of industrialization -​ Critical of realities of the Industrial Age The Industrial Novel- Characteristics 1.​ Portrayal of the Working Class - describes the realities of the working class during the Industrial Revolution 2.​ Exploration of social inequalities - depicted the divide between social class and wealthy elite, raised ethical questions 3.​ Critiques of Industrialization - Critiqued negative the impact industrialization on human well-being and social fabric 4.​ Loss of Connection to Nature - Portrayed a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, rural way of life