Industrial Revolution: Political Responses

Question: How should society address the concerns of industrialization?

Solution?: Do Nothing

Who Support this? Capitalists Gov’t should take a “hands-off” approach to economy Businesses should be free to make $$ any way they can Free markets and supply and demand determine prices, wages, etc.

Why? Rules and regulations prevent businesses from making $$ Rules and regulations take away individual freedom

Solution?: Reform

Who supports this? Utilitarians Gov’t should regulate the economy if that is what is most people’s best interest Gov’t has a responsibility to promote the most good for the most people Jeremy Bentham: Father of Utilitarianism

Why? More people benefit when businesses are regulated Unrestrained capitalism is only good for small number of people

Who also Supports this? Socialists Gov’t’s role is to help make society more equal Gov’t should regulate economy in order to end this inequality

Why? Industrialization creates great division and inequality This division and inequality cause lots of problems Gov’t control of economy solves problems and make more people happy

Solution? Revolution!

Who supports this? Marxists Karal Marx published Communist Manifesto in 1848 with co-author Frederick Engels. Critical of changes made by Industrial Revolution

Karl Marx’s key ideas Society’s problems comes from class conflict 19th century conflict: bourgeoisie (haves) v. proletariat (have-nots) Solution: End class division How? Revolution!!! Result: Perfect classless society

Step #1: Violent Revolution!!!! Proletariat must join together: “Workers of the world, unite!” Proletariat will then overthrow the bourgeoisie!!

Step #2: State socialism Proletariat takes over government and creates temporary dictatorship Dictatorship forces changes in order to reshape society (redistribution of $$ and resources) How long will it last? Unknown

Step #3: Communism!!! Everyone has $$ and resources needed No need for central government; everyone shares wealth Class divisions eliminated Society’s problems go away

Where First?

Then the world….

And Eventually: Global Communist Utopia