Journal #4 What things would we research in order to compare female mill workers in England and Japan? And what would these “things” tell us.

Industrial Revolution

British manufacturing The most demanded product was cotton cloth. Therefore, entrepreneurs (people who look for business opportunities and ways to make profits) looked to ways to increase production of cotton cloth. More demand, increase supply. Speed up production, increase profit.

Changes in Cotton Production Cottage Industry: spinners and weavers 18th century work at home where spinners made cotton thread into cloth on looms.

Technological Advances: “flying shuttle” made weaving faster – they needed more thread; spinning jenny; water powered loom; steam power.

Coal and Iron Industries The success of the steam engine increased the need for coal and led to expansion in coal production, which led to iron industry.

RAILROADS High quality iron was used to build means of transportation – railroads. A more efficient means of moving resources and goods. Building railroads created new jobs. Created a less expensive way to transport goods, so prices of goods were lower. More sales, more factories, more machinery, etc.

Japan’s bullet train

NEW FACTORIES New labor system – factory owners wanted to use their machines constantly, so workers worked in shifts. Workers who were used to hectic work in the farms and periods of inactivity had to now work regular hours and doing the same thing over and over. Workers were fined for being late and fired for misconduct (being drunk). Child workers were beaten.

SPREAD OF INDUSTRIALIZATION It started in Great Britain and spread to other parts of Europe such as Belgium, France and the German states. Then to the United States: Robert Fulton built the first paddle-wheel steamboat making transportation easier and the railroad. The industrial revolution began in the Northeastern United States.

Social Impact Population increased due to decline in death rates, wars and diseases and an increase in food supply. Cities grew dramatically: 1800 – London had 1 million people by 1850, 2.5 million. Living conditions in cities were horrible.

Classes Industrial Middle Class: created due to industrial capitalism: economic system based on industrial production, these were people who built factories and bought machinery. “Getting of money…is the main business of the life of men.” Industrial Working Class: worked in factories and dealt with horrible working conditions: 12-16 hour days, 6 days a week, no job security, no minimum wage, hot, dirty, dusty, unhealthy.

SOCIALISM Society owns and controls means of production (factories and utilities) Equality of all people, replace competition with cooperation. Karl Marx

Journal #5 Choose 2 of the 5 factors of production (reasons why the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain) and draw a picture representing each. Be sure to explain your picture in writing.