Industrial Revolution OVERVIEW Flashcards
What is the Industrial Revolution?
Industrial Revolution, in modern history, the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one influenced by industry and machine manufacturing. It happened from 1750 to 1850.
What is the CAUSE of the Industrial Revolution?
- British colonies provided Britain with a large amount of resources
- People were forced to buy British goods, which helped keep the wealth of the empire
- The wealth encouraged people to invest and promoted invention
- Slaves and native workers were used to make cheap items be sold for a large profit
What are the POLITICAL IMPACTS of the Industrial Revolution
• The Factory Act was established to protect workers (children) in 1833
By then, it was regulated that it was illegal for children under 9 years old to work, and children under 13 were not allowed to work more than 9 hours a day
In 1819, the Factory Acts limited the hours of work for a child under the age of 9 to not work, and children between 9 - 16 were limited to 12 hours of work
• Influential members such as Sir Robert Peel encouraged workers to form trade unions to establish and protect their rights
They joined together and created unions in order to fight for safer conditions, better hours, and increased wages.
• The Poor Law 1834 was created to support only the ‘sick poor’ despite the high involuntary unemployment of other workers
What are the ECONOMIC IMPACTS of the Industrial Revolution
• The British Empire had a lot more wealth to finance investment, innovation and improvement
• Production moved from cottage industries to factories
○ Allowed more production at a lower cost
• Capitalist way of approaching and driving business was developed
• Joint stock companies and corporations grew
○ Paved the way for stock market
What are the SOCIAL IMPACTS of the Industrial Revolution (discrimination)
• Gap between the rich and the poor was widened
due to a division of labour and capital
Those who own the means of production become unreasonably rich, resulting in high-income inequality.
• New social structure called middle class was introduced
It was introduced by the 1830s, but by the end of the century, the class was growing in power and confidence, because it was now possible to make a fortune from manufacturing and trading goods
• The ‘Enclosure’ Movement is an example of promoted efficiency
It had effective crop rotation and saved time in travelling between dispersed fields
○ Discrimination against poorer farmers
○ Limiting access to previously common land
What is the cycle of the Industrial Revolution?
Coal mining production > Invention of new technologies > Increased efficiency > Cheaper production > Cheaper products > People wanting more efficient methods > start from beginnning
What are the GLOBAL IMPACTS of the Industrial Revolution
• Populations moved globally through mass emigration to countries such as America and Australia
This was because of poor working conditions, housing and sanitation led to many people opting to emigrate. This meant lots of free settlers and convicts
• Commerce and banking developed worldwide capabilities and impacts
This was because they promoted the creation of new industries, as banks could provide short-term loans
• Reliance on resources from other colonies and the emergence of faster transport developed a need for a global community
Sensitivity of other cultures
What are the SOCIAL IMPACTS of the Industrial Revolution?
- Use of machinery at the expense of human employment led to disenfranchisement and rebellion from groups
- Urbanisation saw a major increase in the amount of people living in and around cities, which decreased living standards, as infrastructure could not cope with the influx
- England’s population almost doubled during the first half of the nineteenth century due to population increase
