Society’s Reaction to the Industrial Revolution

EQ: How did society respond to the changes brought by the IR?

Change! Middle class wants the right to vote Working class wants better working conditions Women want equal rights with men since they are now working outside the home

Rise of Labor Unions Labor union – groups of workers formed organizations to protest working conditions and demand reform (shorter hours, age limit for workers, safety measures) Strikes - stopping work… put pressure on employers

Child Labor Laws Britain was the first to pass laws regulating child labor. 1802 to 1878 - a series of laws gradually shortened the working hours, improved the conditions, and raised the age at which children could work. United States took many years to outlaw child labor. By 1899 a total of 28 states had passed laws regulating child labor.

Minimum Wage Laws Minimum Wage – the lowest amount a business can legally pay a worker Meant to prevent unfair workplace Changes over time with cost of living Minimum wage in the US info http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/minimumwage.htm

EQ: How did industrialization change political ideas in society?

Liberalism Influenced by Enlightenment thinkers – “free thinkers” Individual rights (equality), freedom of speech and press, limited power of the government

Socialism Socialism – economic system that supports the COLLECTIVE ownership and control of production and distribution of the goods produced Everything belongs to society – no private ownership, people share work and goods produced (no investors who sit and make $$) Government should manage means of production – factories, etc.

Marxism Karl Marx - revolutionary communist, whose works inspired the foundation of many communist regimes in the twentieth century. Marxism - the political, economic, and social theories of Karl Marx that there should eventually be a society in which there are no classes Capitalist profit comes from exploiting the proletariat (poorest people) – capitalism will inevitably break down and be replaced by communism

EQ: How did the ideas of Karl Marx lead to the development of communism?

Communism Karl Marx – The Communist Manifesto – predicted that the workers would overthrow the capitalists (private owners making $$) Communism - political system that supports extreme socialism anti-capitalism Classless society – wealth and power shared by all State would eventually wither away – pure communism Check out this video! (stop at interview!!!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38bM-1l2qBo&safe=active

EQ: How was the reality of communism different from the ideals of Karl Marx

The Russian Revolution 1917 (final phase of World War I) removed Russia from the war and brought about the transformation of the Russian Empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) replacing Russia’s traditional monarchy (very weakened) with the world’s first Communist state. ** Revolution had been a long time coming – constant uprisings and malcontent The new government, led by Vladimir Lenin, would solidify its power only after three years of civil war

Lenin’s version of Marxism Leaders drawn to the intellectual and working class instead of the aristocracy (rich folk) Russia fully entered the industrial age (had been agriculturally based for the most part)

Life Under Lenin Peace – Lenin promised peace after the chaos of WWI and civil war in Russia Communist economy - gave the land previously owned by the nobles to the peasants, and factories were handed over to workers' committees, Government fully controlled production and economy – not an equal reality Communist laws - banned religion; brought in an eight-hour day for workers, as well as unemployment pay and pensions; abolished the teaching of history and Latin, while encouraging science

Life Under Lenin Communist propaganda - there was a huge campaign to teach everyone to read. Communist newsreels were shown around the country lectures were given to teach peasants about Communism. Dictatorship - Lenin dismissed the Constituent Assembly, which was the parliament that the Provisional Government had arranged, and declared the 'dictatorship of the proletariat' (which was really, the dictatorship of Lenin). A secret police force called the Cheka arrested, tortured and killed anybody who tried to destroy the Communist state.

Lenin’s version of Marxism Lenin's concept of imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifts the focus of struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries. Imperialism - the policy of extending the rule or influence of a country over other countries or colonies