So, we just finished learning about the French Revolution...you know...where everyone was getting their head chopped off...
The Industrial Revolution changed the ways that the the world produced its goods, both in the past and even today. It also changed the world's societies from being predominantly agricultural societies to societies that are dominated by industry, manufacturing, and even shipping and transportation.
The Industrial Revolution first got its start in the 18th century in Great Britian, which at the time was the most powerful empire on the planet. If you think about it, this makes sense, since it required a good deal of money (or capital...remember that term...) to kickstart things. After things got rolling in England, other countries jumped in this new Revolution, including Germany and France. However, many people will argue (and rightfully so, I believe) that it was in the United States that the Industrial Revolution really took flight!
So...how about that second question above: How does the Industrial Revolution affect me and my life now?
During the period that we recognize as the Industrial Revolution, there were so many inventions and improvements that it would be virtually impossible to think of an area that WASN'T affected. On the technology front, the biggest advancements, at least in my opinion, were in steam power, which we will discuss in depth later. New fuels such as coal and petroleum, were incorporated into new steam engines, along with advancements in how water power could be used. As a result, other industries including textiles, manufacturing, and even agriculture, were all able to advance. Also, new communications tools...things like the telegraph, telephone, television...all found their beginnings in this time period, and all helped to shrink the world that we live in. And if you want to talk about shrinking the world, it is difficult to overlook such innovations as the automobile, the airplane, and the assembly line which made putting these new vehicles together that much easier and more efficient.
It is worth noting that not everything that came out of this time period was a 100% positive for the world. A lot of things started to slide downwards as these things I just mentioned were all on the upswing. Cities began to explode in size, due largely to increased manufacturing jobs. Many people were driven to the cities to look for work...but the cities weren't ready to house that many people and slums began to spring up. A lot of people argue that the Age of Greed could be a nickname for the Industrial Revolution period, as with these new advancements came a new materialistic view of the world. An age of capitalism exploded throughout much of the world, as entire economic systems based on trade became the norm for many countries. As a result, many factory owners were driven to generate as much money as cheaply as possible which brought about massive problems with child labor (as well as unfair labor practices involving women), unsafe working conditions, poorly lighted and ventilated factories and buildings, and low wages for long work days (read pages 622 and 623 in our text for more information here). Many of these problems gave rise to socialism and, in extreme situations, communism (they are not the same, by the way), which both come into play on the political spectrum today. Unions came to power...and in some cases TOO MUCH POWER. And, of course, any time you start to increase manufacturing and production, things such as pollution and resource exploitation seem to have a way of rearing their ugly heads, don't they?
So, how does the Industrial Revolution affect you today?
How DOESN'T it?!
...and before that it was the American Revolution where a bunch of guys in Red Coats were getting run out of town by a bunch of farmers and frontiersmen, and a couple of drummers and some dude with a fife...who were bent on building a new country...
...but the revolutions are not over. Now it's time for (hey, drummer dudes above...drumroll, please....)
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION!!!
Okay, so we need to ask ourselves a couple of things before we go a whole lot farther with this Industrial Revolution thing. First, what is the Industrial Revolution? And, second, how does the Industrial Revolution have anything to do with me and my life now? Valid questions, so let's take a look at the first one...err...first.
Now, to be historically accurate, which we should probably do since this is HISTORY class, the Industrial Revolution was going on at the same time as the other two revolutions we just discussed. The American Revolution was going on at the end of the 18th Century, and the French Revolution was taking place in the late 18th and early 19th Century, which is roughtly the same time frame as the start of the Industrial Revolution. Most historians consider the Industrial Revolution to have been a period of time from roughly 1750 to 1850, which fits the timeframes we just covered. This new revolution was not a political one, but it would lead to many political and socioeconimic implications later in its existance...but we aren't there yet.
The Industrial Revolution changed the ways that the the world produced its goods, both in the past and even today. It also changed the world's societies from being predominantly agricultural societies to societies that are dominated by industry, manufacturing, and even shipping and transportation.
The Industrial Revolution first got its start in the 18th century in Great Britian, which at the time was the most powerful empire on the planet. If you think about it, this makes sense, since it required a good deal of money (or capital...remember that term...) to kickstart things. After things got rolling in England, other countries jumped in this new Revolution, including Germany and France. However, many people will argue (and rightfully so, I believe) that it was in the United States that the Industrial Revolution really took flight!
So...how about that second question above: How does the Industrial Revolution affect me and my life now?
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| Corliss Steam Engine circa 1849 |
It is worth noting that not everything that came out of this time period was a 100% positive for the world. A lot of things started to slide downwards as these things I just mentioned were all on the upswing. Cities began to explode in size, due largely to increased manufacturing jobs. Many people were driven to the cities to look for work...but the cities weren't ready to house that many people and slums began to spring up. A lot of people argue that the Age of Greed could be a nickname for the Industrial Revolution period, as with these new advancements came a new materialistic view of the world. An age of capitalism exploded throughout much of the world, as entire economic systems based on trade became the norm for many countries. As a result, many factory owners were driven to generate as much money as cheaply as possible which brought about massive problems with child labor (as well as unfair labor practices involving women), unsafe working conditions, poorly lighted and ventilated factories and buildings, and low wages for long work days (read pages 622 and 623 in our text for more information here). Many of these problems gave rise to socialism and, in extreme situations, communism (they are not the same, by the way), which both come into play on the political spectrum today. Unions came to power...and in some cases TOO MUCH POWER. And, of course, any time you start to increase manufacturing and production, things such as pollution and resource exploitation seem to have a way of rearing their ugly heads, don't they?
So, how does the Industrial Revolution affect you today?
How DOESN'T it?!
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