2nd Industrial Revolution and Social Thought

2nd Industrial Revolution New age of economic expansion launched by new methods of steel production by Bessemer and Siemens and the ability to harness electrical power. Inventions Incandescent lamp and phonograph-Edison Man-made fertilizers Dynamite- Nobel Telephone-A.G. Bell

2nd Industrial Revolution Physics and Chemistry Electromagnetism electricity- Faraday Discovery of microbes that cause disease-Pasteur Thermodynamics- Joule Impact on Society Germany began to surpass England as Europe’s leading industrial power for three reasons:

Later industrialization= newer factories and technology German education system provided administrators and engineers needed for modern industry German cartels rationalized production and supported aggressive marketing around the world

Impact on Society Europe’s population grew because the death rate fell much more than the birth rate.

Important Minds of Social Science August Comte Believed his era was a final stage in historical development Published his philosophy, Positivism, 1930-1845 Humanity’s understanding of the world develops through three historical stages:

Important Minds of Social Science Comte Theological-gods in nature Metaphysical- Christianity Positive stage- science through observation Sociology would be the final scientific achievement

Important Minds of Social Science Karl Marx (1818-1883) Communist Manifesto, Das Kapital Theory of history Tried to build a comprehensive philosophical system Uses dialectic (like Hegel) ideas that constitute the spirit of the age Society is fundamentally built on the organization of its economy-its mode of production

Important Minds of Social Science Middle Ages, agricultural economy requires feudalism, creates middle class as antithesis Industrial Age, middle class becomes thesis, working class becomes antithesis Influence of Marx Logically compelling and relevant to all social sciences Rich in moral judgments without having to defend any ethical system Claimed the prestige of science but offered the security of determinism

Important Minds of Social Science Charles Darwin On the Origins of Species Natural selection, survival of the fittest Social Darwinism Used most often to justify social inequality Led to erroneous science like eugenics and the idea of superior races…planned parenthood?

Important Minds of Social Science Herbert Spencer Believed progress was not an accident, but a necessity. All things evolved from simplicity to complexity…from homogeneity to diversity.

New Imperialism New Imperialism – Name given to the period of aggressive pursuit of imperial expansion by European powers between 1870s and 1914. Followed a period marked by the abandonment of colonial interests based on overwhelming expenses associated with maintaining colonies England…North American colonies, Spain…South American colonies

New Imperialism This shift is attributed to three major causes Economic Industrialization required external markets to absorb products It created excess capital available for foreign investment Industrialists found raw materials plentiful and cheap in foreign locations

New Imperialism Political Cultural Government protection/support of missionary societies In light of new distribution of power, politicians acquired “strategic” colonies Cultural Influential writers believed the future success of the powers would be determined by the extent of imperial holdings Social Darwinism National pride and economic opportunities were basis of popular support of imperialism

New Imperialism Exploration of Africa The romantic accounts of European explorers like Richard Burton, David Livingston drew European attention to Africa in 1850s Britain, France, and Germany all contended for African colonies until Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

New Imperialism Berlin Conference Congo would be under the control of Belgium through an international association More liberal use of the Niger and Congo Rivers European powers could acquire African territory through first occupation and secondly notifying the other European states of their occupation and claim Aggressive imperial expansion continues in Africa, Pacific Islands, and Asian mainland until 1914