Postindustrial Society BR: List at least one major change that came about as a result of the Industrial Revolution? Postindustrial Society

Feudal Society As we have discussed, the Industrial Revolution changed life for many people in many different ways. Examples: People worked by the clock, not by the natural night / day cycles anymore Before, both mother and father had taken care of the home and the children as well as done other work. Now, the distinction between fathers as breadwinners and mothers as homemakers became more distinct and engrained. Men, women and children alike worked in very deplorable and unsafe conditions. Eventually the sheer horror of it all led to social reforms and laws that protect workers and children today. For example, children still have to attend school, and are often only allowed to work a certain number of hours per week. Adults who work over 40 hrs/ week are often paid “overtime” to make up for lost time with family, kids, etc.

PostIndustrial Society AKA Information Societies, or Digital Societies are a more recent development. While industrial societies are rooted in the production of material goods, information societies are based on the production of information and services (like music, access to information, etc.) In this way, digital technology is the driving force of this era, just as steam was the driving force of the Industrial Revolution. Power and influence lies with those that control the flow of information. Those that store it (cloud storage companies), and those that share it (app programmers, etc.) are the main holders of influence. Social classes in such a society are divided by access to education and information; without technical skills, one cannot thrive in such an environment.

The Development of Cities As mills/factories developed, people naturally congregated (i.e. gathered) there looking for work. Cities grew, and even sprang up where no city had been before. 1000s of people who had lived for generations and lived by following the seasons (i.e. planting in the spring, growing in the summer and harvesting in the Fall) began to instead learn new habits of working an hourly schedule 6 days a week (excluding Sundays).

A Transforming Influence By the late 1800s, the world had been drastically changed by the Industrial Revolution. Where it had started in England, it spread to Europe, as well as the U.S. England had lead the 1st phase of the industrial revolution, using steam power, coal, and cotton manufacturing. The next phase was led by the U.S., and focused on steel, electricity, oil and gas. And like most great changes in human history, there were positive and negative results.

Comparing the Effects of the Industrial Revolution Positives Negatives Goods were much cheaper and affordable Millions could buy things that before, only kings and nobles could afford (or even better) For example, today the average American family enjoys many things that kings and nobility never enjoyed or could have dreamed of, like TVs, heated water, telephones, cars, etc. Inequality became an even bigger problem. Factory owners got incredibly rich while their workers barely survived. Workers often worked 16 hour shifts, from dark to dark, and for very little money. They had no legal protection, so if they lost a limb while working, etc, too bad. VID

HW: Industrial Revolution Research Project Check out the handout, and use the rest of class to get started!