The Industrial Revolution

Before the Industrial Revolution  People mostly lived in small villages and worked in agriculture or as craftsmen (making goods by hand).  People lived and worked as a family unit.

It began with the Agricultural Revolution  Wealthy landowners in England bought up the land that village farmers had once worked.  Then, they enclosed their land with fences or hedges, and tried to create larger crop yields using new seeding and harvesting methods.  This is known as the enclosure movement  This forced small farmers to become tenant farmers or to give up farming and move to the cities.

Agricultural Pioneers  Jethro Tull was one of the first scientific farmers.  He invented the seed drill about  It allowed farmers to sow seeds in well- spaced rows at specific depths and caused a larger share of the seed to grow, thus boosting crop yields.

Livestock Pioneers  Robert Bakewell increased his mutton output by allowing only his best sheep to breed.  Other farmers followed his lead, and in between 1700 and 1786, the average weight of lambs climbed from 18 to 50 pounds.

Agricultural Revolution  Changed the way farming was done and increased the crop yields by 300% from 1700 –  The steel plow was invented and was used with a horse, which was faster.  Farmers began to use fertilizers.  Allowed the population to increase, which created more workers.

Urban Growth  Those who could no longer make a living on the land migrated from the countryside to the cities to seek work in the factories. 1850: Population Living in Cities

Population Growth  At the same time, the population of Europe continued to grow.

The Role of the Railroads  The railroads, built during the 1830s and 1840s:  Enabled people to leave the place of their birth and migrate easily to the cities.  Allowed cheaper and more rapid transport of raw materials and finished products.  Created an increased demand for iron and steel and a skilled labor force.

What was the Industrial Revolution?  Machines were used to make goods  Energy used in production was not from animal sources but from burning fossil fuels (coal, wood) or water  Industry increased very quickly  It changed all aspects of society in a big way  Europe became a dominant world power  Changed social classes and how they lived

Mechanization  During the first half of the 19 th century, the manufacturing process changed from small- scale production by hand at home to large-scale production by machine in a factory setting.  This made goods more quickly and more cheaply.

At the Expense of Workers  Even though it created high- quality products at low prices, it came at the expense of workers. For example, the raw wool and cotton that fed the British textile mills came from:  Lands converted from farming to sheep raising, leaving farm workers without jobs  The southern plantations of the United States, which were dependent upon slave labor

Inventions Spur Technological Advances  James Hargreaves invents a spinning wheel he named after his daughter, Jenny.  His machine allowed one spinner to work eight threads at a time in order to produce yarn.

Other Inventors   England’s cotton came from plantations in the American South in the 1790s.  Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin to quickly separate cotton.

James Watt  James Watt was a Scottish mathematician who figured out a way to make the steam engine work faster and more efficiently.

The Plight of the Cities  The high number of human beings put pressure on city resources:  Housing, water, sewers, food supplies, and lighting were completely inadequate.  Slums grew and disease, especially cholera, ravaged the population.  Crime increased and became a way of life for those who could make a living in no other way.

Conditions in the Countryside  The only successful farmers were those with large landholdings who could afford agricultural innovations.  Most peasants:  Didn’t have enough land to support themselves  Were devastated by poor harvests (e.g., the Irish Potato Famine of )  Were forced to move to the cities to find work in the factories.

What was it like to work in a factory?  Working conditions were poor.  Long hours (up to 18 per day) and low wages, especially for women and children  Dangerous, unsanitary working conditions

The Condition of Labor  All working people faced possible unemployment, with little or no provision for security.  In addition, they were subject to various kinds of discipline:  The closing of factory gates to late workers  Fines for tardiness  Dismissal for drunkenness  Public censure for poor quality workmanship  Beatings for non-submissiveness, especially children

Family Structures Changed  Everyone worked in the factory for up to 18 hours a day – men, women, and children.  Very little time was spent together.  Children grew up with little training from their parents about behavior.  People had to share housing with other families.  Poor living conditions made children very sickly and infants often died before reaching the age of 2.  Children had very little education, if any.

The Luddites  In England, a movement began to protest the poor wages and conditions and the replacement of skilled workers with machines.  Luddites broke into factories and destroyed machines. They also sent threatening letters to factory owners.

Effects of the Industrial Revolution