Background of the Industrial Revolution History Essay Example

Beginning of the Industrial Revolution/In Britain

The Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century in Britain and later expanded around the world, though it was primarily restricted to Britain from 1760 to 1830. This revolution made the transition of predominantly rural, agricultural communities in Europe and America later into industrial, urban communities. Even though many people in Britain had relocated to cities from rural areas prior to the Industrial Revolution, this process increased as the growth of large factories converted small towns into big cities. However, as these towns turned cities became overcrowded, growing urbanization presented enormous issues such as pollution and poor sanitation. Moreover, industrialization increased total wealth and distributed it more widely than in previous centuries, assisting in the expansion of the middle class and raising the quality of life for both the middle and upper classes. Poor and working-class people, on the other hand, continued to struggle. As a result of technological advancement, factory labor had become increasingly dangerous, with many workers, including women and children, being forced to work long hours for low pay. Britain's substantial handcraft manufacturing industry in the 17th and early 18th centuries was a crucial influence in the Industrial Revolution. This resulted in having a high-wage economy, which encouraged the creation of the factory and other labor-saving technologies. Because the handicraft industry was so big, the issue of living standards was magnified, and working-class living standards remained low for a long time. When a trade was mechanized, earnings in that sector declined, and employees' average incomes decreased. Social conflicts and practical challenges arose as a result of the Industrial Revolution, which impacted the politics of the time and influenced much of social and cultural life. The three-class model, which was based on Adam Smith's economics, was used by the majority of commentators to analyze society. Every price' resolves itself into the same three parts of rent, labor, and profit either instantly or eventually.' As a result, every country's whole yearly labor product must be divided into three parts and distributed to the country's various residents, either as salaries for their labor, profits from their stock, or land rent. Although the division of society into three classes was a useful simplification, it should be remembered that each class had a diverse set of ideas and actions, and their character changed over time. In any case, the three-class model gave insight into the politics of the Industrial Revolution since landowners, businesspeople, and employees realized that they were part of a group with shared economic interests that were opposed to those of the other groups.

The Industrial Revolution in the United States

The industrial revolution eventually expanded to the rest of the world, including the United States, as previously stated. The founding of a textile mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, by English immigrant Samuel Slater in 1793 is typically credited as the start of industrialization in the United States. Slater's Mill in Rhode Island like most mills were powered by water, which originally limited industrial expansion in the northeast. Slater became recognized as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution" after constructing numerous more cotton mills in New England. The United States developed its own industrialization route, aided by ideas "borrowed" from Britain as well as inventors. In addition, the Northeast's concentration of the industry helped the construction of transportation systems such as railroads and canals, which helped with commerce and trade. The demand for some more effective ways of bringing agricultural and manufactured commodities to the market emerged with the rising production of those commodities. In Europe, the initial steps toward this goal were to build better overland roads. So canals were created in both Europe and North America to connect existing waterways and establish marine passageways. In the early nineteenth century, steam engines were recognized as effective in mobility as after 1825, high-pressure steam engines also powered railroad locomotives in Britain. Railways quickly extended across Europe and North America, eventually reaching Asia in the second half of the nineteenth century. As the borders of industrial society were stretched, railroads became one of the world's main industries. The industrial revolution transformed the nature of employment for millions of working Americans, just as it did for workers in Britain. Some may have previously worked for themselves at home either through a small business or in the field, crafting raw materials into goods or growing crops from seeds to the table. These workers including women and children worked for a big company when they took factory jobs. The repetitious labor sometimes only involved one little stage in the production process, so the worker did not see or appreciate what was being manufactured. Also, as previously mentioned work was often dangerous and conducted in unsanitary conditions. Labor unions arose as a result of dangerous working conditions, long hours, and concerns about pay and child labor. Workers formed strikes and shutdowns in the decades following the Civil War, which helped to bring attention to their problems to the public. Cities were where new employment for the working class was to be found. As a result of the Industrial Revolution, the United States began its shift from a rural to urban civilization. Young people who were raised on farms, as well as millions of immigrants from Europe, relocated to cities for more and better opportunities. With many relocating to cities, housing for all of the new residents was an issue, so many workers ended up living in slums; open sewers ran alongside the streets, and the water supply was sometimes polluted, causing sickness. These dreadful urban circumstances sparked the Progressive Movement in the early twentieth century, which resulted in many of the new laws intended to protect and assist people, ultimately altering the relationship between the government and the people.

End

The Industrial Revolution had an economic, social, and cultural impact, despite the positives and negatives. This revolution consisted of moving from an agricultural and handicraft economy to one based on industry and machine manufacturing. These changes ushered in new methods of working and living, significantly reshaping society and laying the groundwork for modern society.