Technology and the Industrial Revolution Repercussions

Energy Lack of power was the central reason for poverty The answer? New sources of energy were needed to provide more power By the 1800’s Britain had cut down almost all of her trees The answer?

Coal Was the alternative energy It had it problems though: The answer? Mines were dug too deep Keep flooding Needed to find a way to empty them for a source of more energy Previously horse teams were used to try to pump out the water The answer?

Steam Engine By the 1780’s the steam engine was the greatest success of the Industrial Revolution Steam power begins to replace water power Greatly changed all aspects of the economy

Steam engine, what’s the big deal? The steam engine is the first device that turns large scale heat energy into mechanical energy Previously heat was only used for: heat, and cooking Now heat could be used to accomplish large feats of strength previously impossible The steam engine is the first modern machine and sets the stage for all machines to come after it

Transportation Roads were improved, but shipping by land was still very expensive: By 1816 an Iron Rail was developed This lead to the inventions of locomotives and then to trains

Cultural Consequences of the Railway: Changed the outlook and values for an entire society The power/speed of trains was a new experience It fired the imagination of the 19th century The space between places was shortened (time)

GNP Gross National Product Economic Consequences for the GNP The value of all goods and services produced by the entire economy in a year Economic Consequences for the GNP Iron production rose Larger markets were now possible which lead to larger factories which make goods cheaper

The Factory: Workers from the cottage industry were used to independent work They found that they disliked the routine and work tempo imposed by machines Had to learn to work long hours This leads to conflict with traditional values

Factories Factories were being built in urban areas because of population density needed to fuel the factories Families came to the factories in full family units Children worked along side their parents

Social Effects of Factory Labour Workers felt they had lost control of their lives Faced with a lifetime of repetitive tasks Factories were taking over jobs People lost status and income

Role of Women Industrialization saw women’s work differentiating from mens work When spinning was mechanized women lost a traditional occupation Women went and worked in garment industry Men were in mining/metals Women were low paid Men still believed women should be homemakers

Reactions: early 19th century Luddism (Luddite) A spontaneous up welling of hatred for factories 1799-1800 workers burned mills and factories By 1811 many mills and machines had been destroyed by angry mobs