The Industrial Revolution

Events in Europe, While You Were Gone The Renaissance ( )- – Began in banking and trade centers like Italy and the Netherlands. – People focused on individual (humanism) and secular themes. Rise of nation-states ( )- – Monarchs limited power of nobles, created larger states. – Italy, France, England developed powerful governments with high taxes and strong monarchs. The Reformation (1500s)- – Started in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to a cathedral door to protest Catholic selling of indulgences – Spread through Europe, promoted literacy, nationalism, individualism. The Scientific Revolution ( )- – Study of the physical world with experiments, observations, math. – Development of Newton’s laws of motion, gravity, planetary motion. The Enlightenment ( )- – Everything should be subject to rational, critical, scientific way of thinking. – Conflicted with the church, humans had natural laws and rights. – Influenced politics with work of Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau, Jefferson.

What is an “Industrial Revolution”? A massive increase in production, and related acceleration of transportation, communication and sales capacities. The heart of this increase was new technology, particularly technology based on coal or waterpower instead of human or animal power (Stearns) A process that transforms agrarian and handicraft- centered economies into economies distinguished by industry and machine manufacture (Bentley) A rapid major change in an economy marked by the general introduction of power-driven machinery or by an important change in the prevailing types and methods of use of such machines (Merriam-Webster)

Concept of Industrial Revolution A process rather than an event, usually taking nearly a century to be completed. A macro-change like that of the development of agriculture during the Neolithic Revolution. This process first began in England around 1750, sparking a monumental shift in world history.

English Factory System First adopted in England in the 1750s, as a method for manufacturing Involved mass producing goods by machines usually run by water or steam Featured low and unskilled workers running machines, or moving materials Lowered costs of goods Power Looms in English Cotton Mill (circa 1830)

Why England and not China/India? New World Colonies New World plantations provided models for factories and divisions of labor. New crops from the Americas caused population booms, increasing the labor pool. England’s population doubled between Increased capital from colonies and the slave trade led to heavy investment in industry. Agricultural Revolution New farming techniques like crop rotation, fertilizer use and land reclamation further increased the food supply. Machines replaced humans in tasks like planting seeds, plowing fields and reaping crops. The Enclosure Movement made farmland private and forced poor farmers to move to cities to find work.

More Causes The Steam Engine The steam engine provided power from the burning of fossil fuels (mainly coal) Thomas Newcomen’s model developed around 1710 was used as a pump to remove water from mines. James Watt invented an engine in the 1760s that used less coal and could power factory machinery As a result, factories could now be built away from rivers. Cotton Industry Prior to the Industrial Revolution, India produced much of the world’s cotton. New technology allowed for much more efficient production in England, and thus cheaper products. John Kay’s flying shuttle sped up weaving on a loom, and James Hargrave’s spinning jenny led to greater yarn production to keep pace.

The Factory System Plantations and then the textile industry provided early models for England’s highly efficient factory system. Factories were powered by water and later by efficient steam engines, fueled by England’s abundant coal supply. A division of labor was set up, with different workers performing different tasks to optimize productivity and profitability. Contrary to prior agricultural and home work, factories demanded set hours, specific jobs and machine-like discipline and efficiency. Towns grew around factories for workers and their families to live in. Urban areas developed quickly and urban populations skyrocketed.

The Effects You Know Population growth and urbanization Mass production of goods, higher standard of living for many (but not all) Bad working conditions  unions and labor law reforms Transportation improved, railroad construction Laissez-faire economics (capitalism vs. communism, Smith vs. Marx)

Additional Effects Education is more widespread Social class structure changed, larger middle class and new worker class (proletariat) Corporations are formed to meet business demands The Industrial Revolution spread to many areas of the world in some way: – Europe and the Americas were industrialized – Other areas were used as sources of cheap labor, raw materials, and markets for goods

Looking Ahead How exactly do you keep up with the demand for resources and products to fuel a massive industrial complex? Brings us back to the second day of the unit: – Imperialism – Mercantilism