Industrial Revolution The Transformation of Production

Traditional Economies  Agriculture, often subsistence  Low Productivity; stagnant economy  Power: Human, animal, nature  Manufacture: artisanal, hand-made  People’s relationship to land determines status

Transition to a Modern Economy: What must occur?  Agriculture: must produce more food with fewer workers, enough to feed cities; this begins in early 18 th century as new farming methods and land tenure increase production.  Power: sources of power independent of nature (wind, water) enhance production and diversify locations; steam engine of 1760s provides that breakthrough.

Transition  Technological innovation: Scientific revolution provides context for experimentation and innovation.  Financial institutions: provide easy transfer of money and sources of credit; banks, including national banks.  Attitudes: people have to value making money: think about France, where nobles, no matter how hard up for cash, could NOT become businessmen; English nobles did not hesitate to engage in business.

Transitions  Labor Force for industry: demographic revolution, which sparks a rapid population growth in Europe, coupled with the transition in agriculture, provides a labor force.  Government: has to support business and encourage development.

Industrialization  Begins first in England in the 18 th Century  Steam engine: used first in coal mines, then in textiles, then in railroads and other industries.  First phase (through first half of 19 th century): based on coal, iron, textiles, railroads.  Great Britain dominated this first industrial revolution.

Textiles: Changing Production  Spinning was first part of production process mechanized: spinning jenny could produce much more yarn in one day than many hand spinners.  In 1790s, hand weavers in heavy demand because weaving not mechanized; wages increased dramatically even as hand spinners lost jobs.

Textiles  By 1790s, demand for raw cotton increased dramatically.  Cotton production is very labor intensive: demand leads to increased use of slaves in US and spread of land planted with cotton.  Cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1790s, streamlines and mechanizes cleaning raw cotton.  Cotton production increases through the first half of the 19 th century.

Textiles  Increased production of raw cotton and of cotton yarn produces demand for mechanized weaving machines. These begin to be introduced in early 19 th century.  Hand weavers resist; Luddites destroy machines in some English factories.  But: by 1830s, cotton textile production is mechanized; wool and linen production follow.

Textiles  Note the pattern: a first improvement in the production process (spinning, in this case) produces the need for additional changes and improvements—cleaning raw cotton and weaving. Other industries follow that pattern.

Textiles  Note also that those who industrialize first have an initial advantage—they produce more at a cheaper price. However, those who start later may have the advantage of buying new, more efficient equipment (e.g., a personal computer bought 20 years ago was VERY expensive and inefficient compared to today’s models! The same is true in industry: early machines were expensive and not as efficient as later ones!)

Impact of Industrialization on Workers  Urbanization, but few or no services such as sanitation, plumbing, schools, churches, parks in working class areas.  Drudgery and monotony of work in factories: contrast with agricultural work which gave worker more freedom to control pace and timing.  See Gaskell’s Mary Barton for descriptions of working class lives.

Socialism  See Karl Marx document: Workingmen of all countries, unite!  Marx urged the workers (proletariat) to unite; overthrow the capitalist bourgeoisie; and establish a workers’ state, one in which private property was abolished and in which everyone contributed what she or he was able and received whatever he or she needed.