Change & Continuity Over Time

Issue #1: Clear thesis that creates argument Must incorporate LIMITING words and TIME PERIOD in the prompt. Ex: Analyze the changes and continuities in Western Europe in the period 1700-1850. Thesis: Over the course of the period 1700-1850 Western Europe saw changes in the production of goods and the environment. However, labor and social hierarchies remained virtually unchanged.

Issue #2: Addressing the time period Western Europe saw significant changes in their method of production and the environment. Western Europe started industrialization in 1750 with the establishment of the first factories. These factories produced goods quite differently. Instead of producing goods by hand in the home, goods were produced by machine in factories. These factories cut down the cost of producing these goods (often textiles) which made them more affordable for people, ultimately raising the standard of living. However, factories also brought a lot of pollution. As people moved to the cities looking for work the conditions became quite overcrowded + unsanitary. Disease spread rapidly in the crowded cities killing many. In factories created very polluted air and water. Many living in the cities developed lung problems and were in danger from the soot produced by the steam-powered machines. As a result of the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850), Western Europe’s economy was changed positively as cheap factory produced goods raised the standard of living. However, many negative changes resulted as well, particularly the harm to the environment.

Western Europe saw significant changes in their method of production and the environment between 1700-1850. In 1700, Western Europe was not industrialized. Most goods were made in the home using the domestic system. The production of goods was slow and prices remain high. However, new agricultural methods (like crop rotation) and the introduction of new foods from the Americas (potato) resulted in an increase in population. The growing population of Western Europe had a high demand for goods and as a result Western Europe, particularly Britain, started industrialization in 1750 with the establishment of the first factories. These factories produced goods quite differently. Instead of producing goods by hand in the home, goods were produced by machine in factories. By 1850 Britain and much of Western Europe was industrialized. These factories had cut down the cost of producing these goods (often textiles) which made them more affordable for people, ultimately raising the standard of living. However, factories also brought a lot of pollution. As people moved to the cities looking for work the conditions became quite overcrowded + unsanitary. Disease spread rapidly in the crowded cities killing many. In factories created very polluted air and water. Many living in the cities developed lung problems and were in danger from the soot produced by the steam-powered machines. As a result of the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850), Western Europe’s economy was flourishing based on the production of cheap factory-produced goods, which raised the standard of living. However, these factories produced significant harm to the environment and led to countless deaths. All in all, Western Europe changed significantly during the period 1700-1850 both economically and environmentally.