Industrialization in Europe November 9, 2009

Industrial Revolution? What are the characteristics of a revolution? What is the difference between a revolution and an evolution?

Pre-Industrialization Europe Europe’s wealth was comparable to that of the rest of the world ~90% of Europeans lived in the countryside Artisans worked in small businesses, often out of the home Products were crafted using hand tools - entire process was done by one person Cottage Industries

The Big Question: Did industrialization improve the lives of those affected?

Timeline of the Industrial Revolution Happened first in Britain, starting ~ France & Belgium 1850s – German States 1860s – U.S. (Civil War) 1870s – Canada, Italy, and Austria 1890s – Russia  What trends do you see?

Why now? Steam engine Demographic revolution

The Steam Engine Move away from rivers James Watt – Greatly improved the machine. Became the form of power the drove industrialization Powered by coal Development of the railway

Demographic Revolution At this time there was a massive change in demography. Prior to the 19 th century, Europe had high birth and high death rates. How did this change?  Rapid population growth (England 1760 – 5.5 M, 1851 – 16.8 M)  Rapid urbanization Why did this change?  Younger marriage, less celibacy, fewer still births

How did this affect men? Men left farm work for wage work in the cities Conditions were awful, but opportunities were seen to be better (Land issues) Some factory owners cared about the welfare of their workers (Robert Owen) Men used to be trained directly and even lived with employers

How did this affect women? Women were responsible for growing food on farms for sustenance and garment cottage industries. Move to the factories, became part of cotton mill production Were heavily employed in textile and sewing mills Expected to leave factory after marriage White slave trade Independence?

How did this affect children? Were helpful operating small machine because of their smaller hands 14% of workers were under 14 years of age Discipline, maturity

Response to Industrialization Workers were in close quarters and became aware of their collective power Society (especially middle and upper class) saw the industrial revolution as corrupting women and children Changing idea of the countryside

Worker Resistance Unions illegal in England between ; France between Luddites – Northern Britain between Government Response. Mutual Aid & Friendly Societies – Only skilled workers could join