Industrial Revolution (1750-1850)
Per. 1
Causes
o Because of Britain’s island status and natural resources, its social emphasis on profit accumulation, and its strong financial institutions, it’s clear to see why the Industrial Revolu3tion began in G.B.
o Simple breakthroughs in textiles through the late 1700’s eventually evolved and demanded new mechanization processes that were more efficient.
o Laissez-faire capitalist ideals set up the Industrial Revolution by allowing for free trade and other economic factors that let the I.R. flourish.
o A cause and ultimately an effect, the Steam/Coal/RR/Iron relationship both served as a catalyst for initiation and as positive result of the Industrial Revolution.
Nature
o The factory almost always broadly defines the Industrial Revolution. Providing a central location for production, in comparison to Cottage Industry, the factory created an ideal location for machines to work in unison and output unprecedented amounts of goods in record times.
o Despite the unparalleled efficiency, negative consequences also followed. For example, overpopulation in urban environments was extremely common, and pollution increased exponentially. Working conditions were horrendous, and potentially deadly. However, reforms for these issues were brought up. The Factory act of 1833 and the Public Health Act of 1848 both show how reformers were present in advocating basic human rights and safeties.
o Comparatively, France experienced much more gradual, lighter, more family-based industrialization. Additionally, Germany, in all its disunited glory, industrialized slightly. Its disunity hindered economic potential, and would later explode in production after its unification in 1871.
Analysis
The Industrial Revolution is the culmination of the Scientific Revolution and capitalism because it materialized and made tangible the theories and methods of the Scientific...