REVOLUTIONS IN ACTION
The Industrial Revolution
1. Start of the Industrial Revolution
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The Industrial Revolution began in England (Great Britain) in the late 1700s as a
result of technological advances that increased the amount of crops produced
The advanced technology also resulted in a population increase and forced small
farmers to either become tenant farmers (farm lands owned by someone else) or
move to the cities
England had the factors of production needed for industrialization, including:
1. natural resources (rivers and harbors)
2. experienced entrepreneurs (businesspeople)
3. rising population
4. political stability
5. increasing world trade and economic growth
From England, the Industrial Revolution spread to the United States and other
European countries where the factors of production were available
The Industrial Revolution caused major economic, social, and political changes
around the world
2. Economic Changes
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Economic changes from the Industrial Revolution began with the invention of
machines
New textile machines for spinning and weaving increased cloth production that had
been done by hand
o The flying shuttle doubled the amount of weaving a worker could do in a day
o The flying shuttle was soon joined by the more advanced spinning jenny,
which allowed 1 spinner to spin 8 threads at a time
o The flying shuttle and spinning jenny were powered by the water frame
o In 1779, the spinning mule was invented as a combination of the spinning
jenny and water frame, producing a stronger product
o In 1787, the water-powered power loom further increased the speed of
weaving
o The cotton gin increased cotton production after its invention in 1793
Factories were built to house the new machines, rather than the "cottage industries"
of handwork previously done at home
o Factories were built near water to power the machines
o Factories were built in existing cities or established towns near water sources
After the development of the steam engine byJames Watt, factories were built away
from water sources because the steam engine was used to power machines
o Coal and iron were the main resources used to power the steam engine and
factory machines
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In the second wave of the Industrial Revolution in the 1870s, electricity, chemicals,
and steel were the main sources for industrial business
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The steam engine also helped to improve transportation
o The steam engine was used to power steamboats and locomotives, leading to
the building of canals and railways for trade and transportation
o The development of railroads created new jobs for railroad workers, and
miners were needed to get coal to power the steam engine
o Trade over longer distances grew and travel became easier
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The development of factories led to a division of labor as individuals were assigned
specific tasks, which led to increased productivity and output of manufactured
goods
Interchangeable parts, where many identical parts were produced instead of the
previous process of creating unique items by hand, made it easier to mass produce
goods and repair them with machines
Mass production also allowed goods to be produced at a cheaper price, making them
more available to a higher portion of the population
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Workers spent as long as 14 hours a day, six days a week in the factories
The working conditions were dangerous and resulted in injury without
compensation from the companies
Although conditions were dangerous, individuals could earn more in factories than
on farms, leading to a large rural-to-urban migration
3. Social Changes
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Rural-to-urban migration led to many social changes
The division of labor made clear the division between the workers and owners
Many European cities doubled in population
Low pay for workers and unhealthy environments in the cities made housing
conditions very poor
o The working class lived in crowded areas without basic needs such as
running water
o Conditions were unsanitary, and the factories produced pollution
o Crime increased due to poverty and there was not enough police protection
The middle and upper classes moved to nicer homes in the suburbs, which showed
the growing class divisions
4. Political Changes
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Political changes came as a result of dangerous working conditions in the factories
and the growing divisions between the different social classes
Laissez-faire capitalism, an economic system in which all factors of production were
owned by private individuals with no government interference, was the foundation
of the Industrial Revolution
o Capitalism allowed for divisions between those who had the wealth and those
who did not
Supporters of capitalism were against the creation of minimum wage laws and
better working conditions, believing that it would upset the capitalist system and
weaken the production of wealth
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The working class felt increasingly oppressed by the middle and upper classes,
which led to rising support for socialism
o Supporters of socialism believed that it would provide more for the working
class people and allow the government to plan the economy to promote
equality and end poverty
o Socialism offered workers more protection than capitalism and it promised
to distribute wealth according to need
o Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels promoted radical socialism, stating that
society was dividing into warring classes
 Marx and Engels believed that the proletariats (the "have-nots" or
workers) would overthrow the bourgeoisie (the "haves" or the
owners) and create a "dictatorship of the proletariat"
 The proletariat revolution did not occur during the Industrial
Revolution, but Marx provided the inspiration for future reforms and
revolutions
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Labor unions and reform laws came about in the 1800s to correct the issues between
the social classes
o Unions negotiated for better working conditions, higher pay, and shorter
hours
o Unions threatened to strike if demands were not met
o The unions were restricted at first but achieved some success over time
o In the 1830s, the British Parliament began regulating mine and factory
conditions for women and children
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In addition to the wealth gap between rich and poor within industrialized nations, a
global wealth gap was also occurring at this time
As industrialized nations gained power over non-industrialized nations, the
wealthier nations began to take advantage of the poorer nations for resources and
markets
Imperialism, a practice in which stronger nations dominated weaker nations, came
from the Industrial Revolution
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