industrialisation Flashcards
what is the social question?
- refers to social and economic challenges that emerged during 19th-century industrialization, mainly concerning harsh living and working conditions faced by working class
- increasing Issues like
- long hours
- low wages
- lack of job security
- poor housing
- child labor
- > led to widespread poverty and inequality
- Addressing the social question became a priority as governments, churches, and reformers tried to find ways to improve workers’ lives
phases of industrialisation:
• Early Industrialization (1830-1870):
- early railways making transportation of goods and people easier
- establishing zollverein 1834 > enhanced trade in germany
> sets groundwork for unification/idea of one nation emerged
> removed trade barriers between the many German states, creating a single, large internal market - introduction of technological innovations
- development of new sectors > slowly leaving all agricultural economy behind
• High Industrialization (1871-1914):
- demand for other industries like steel, coal, coal and industrial centers, especially in the Ruhr region
- expansion of railway network (core industry) > linkage effect
- 1871 > unification of germany
- 1871-73 > founders’ boom
> establishing new companies
> rapid economic growth
1873 > founders’ crash
> numerous bankruptcies
> economic downturn
> BUT contributed to stable long term growth
• Late Industrialisation
- slowly became economic power again
- New fields (electrical and chemical industries) emerged
- urbanizarion and migration > overcrowding, poor living conditions
how was the situation before industrialisation? (What prevented Germany?)
• politically
- fragmented political structure > no politcal unity
> each state with each owns laws, tariffs and currency
inconsistent policy, investments
- estate based system
• economically
- outdated, inefficient agricultural practices (traditional)
> low productivity - no unified infrastructure > hindered transportation of goods
- unnecessary regulations:
> guild system: restrict innovation, entrepreneurship, competition
• socially
- limited social mobility
- peasants depended on landlord > feudalism
- vast majority lived in rural areas > couldn’t move to urban centers
what were the consequences of industrialisation which led to social question?
• poor working conditions
• child labour
• health issues
• urban overcrowding
> social question!
what were the approaches to solve social question and were they effective?
(STATE)
• state
> response to growing labor movement
tried to avoid uprising, political activity from workers
- workers: starting point
• Bismarck’s social reforms:
> Germany introduced first welfare system, including health insurance (1883), accident insurance (1884), the pension insurance (1889)
- free medical treatment
- in accidences as well
• effectiveness
- innovative > helped create modern welfare system (long term)
- reduction of social unrest
- housing efforts solved problems
- improvement of working conditions
- BUT:
- only helped small part > rural areas
- housing efforts: couldn’t keep up
- still faced poor working conditions
what were the approaches to solve social question and were they effective?
(CHURCH)
- established charities, soup kitchens, and shelters to provide immediate aid (food, housing, and clothing, to poor and working-class families)
- offered schools, health services for the poor
> aiming to improve long-term opportunities and reduce poverty through education - called for social policies in order to improve working conditions
• effectiveness
- could only help minorities
- only acted locally
- didnt address issues which led to poverty
- positive role models for future
- established long existential social organisations (Diakonie)
was the industrialisation good or bad?
(short and long term consequences)
- important to look at different perspectives and the opinion would change depending on which pov you look at it
GOOD
• short term
- Boosted economic growth
- increased production and created jobs > helping Germant become industrial powers
- Technological advancements also improved efficiency
• long term
- set foundation for modern infrastructure, higher living standards, and advancements in medicine, transportation, and communication
- spurred social reforms, leading to labor rights, social welfare systems, and greater economic opportunity
BAD
• short term
- poor working conditions
- child labor, urban overcrowding, and health issues
- Rapid urbanization strained housing, sanitation, and increased pollution, creating difficult living conditions for the working class
• long term
- Environmental damage, such as pollution had lasting effects
- created economic inequality, contributing to modern environmental and social challenges
