Unit 1: The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution  A period of economic growth with an increased use of machines. This led to less farming and more manufacturing.

Why England?  Timeline: In England 1730 – 1850  In Western Europe and America 1850 –  Before 1500’s: England was a farming country. No real wealth except for landowners.  After 1500’s – improved ships and navigation provided access to England. This also led to England’s growth as a naval power.

Why England?  Location: Located on the Thames R., London has easy access to the Atlantic Ocean.  Natural Resources: England has an abundance of coal and iron ore Ore – a rock that contains a valuable mineral

Why England?  Colonies: England had several colonies that provided natural resources such as cotton from India  Technology: Improved farming tools/methods made farming less labor intensive

Why England?  New agriculture technology meant fewer farmhands were needed. Many became factory workers.

Inventions from the Industrial Revolution  We will take these from an Industrial Revolution reading

Before Industrial Revolution

After Industrial Revolution

Positive Effects  Created jobs  Created wealth  Made England a world power

Negative Effects  Pollution  Housing shortages  Unfair labor conditions  Low pay

Negative

Growth of cities

Labor Movement  Workers began to organize to protest unfair labor conditions (strength in numbers)  Factory owners opposed labor unions  Slowly, conditions improved

Worker Reforms  We will take these from an Industrial Revolution reading

New ideas  Worker exploitation led to new economic ideas  Communism vs Capitalism  Socialism

New Powers  By 1900, Germany and America had passed England in economic power  Japan was also gaining on England