Lesson 6 Flashcards
Industrial Revolution Social Aspects
What is Simon Kuznets’ definition of a country’s economic growth?
It is a long-term rise in the capacity to supply increasingly diverse economic goods to its population, based on advancing technology and the institutional and ideological adjustments that it demands.
What relationship exists between inequality and the first phases of industrialization according to Kuznets?
Inequality tends to rise as the workforce shifts from agriculture (low income) to industry (high income) until 50% of the workforce has transferred. Afterward, inequality begins to decrease.
How did the structure of society change during the Industrial Revolution?
The shift was from a feudal system with nobility and clergy to a new classification where the middle class, including merchants and professionals, became the leaders. There was a transition of power from land-owning aristocracy to the industrial bourgeoisie.
What were some of the environmental impacts of the Industrial Revolution?
It led to increased CO2 emissions, air pollution causing respiratory diseases, water pollution, and sanitation problems like cholera outbreaks, particularly in urban centers.
What were the three perspectives on living standards during the Industrial Revolution according to Mokyr?
Optimists: Believed improvement was noticeable, especially after 1815.
Pessimists: Argued living standards improved very little.
Moderates: Thought living standards rose modestly before 1850 but improvements for most of the British working class were slow and late.
What factors complicate comparisons of living standards before and during the Industrial Revolution?
The availability of data, concurrent events like wars and epidemics, and changes in the basket of goods consumed make comparisons difficult.
What role did education play in the Industrial Revolution?
It became more widely promoted, with laws like Britain’s Factory Act of 1833 and Forster’s Education Act of 1870 mandating elementary education. France also introduced publicly supported education after the French Revolution, though it wasn’t fully implemented until later.
How did literacy rates vary across different countries during the Industrial Revolution?
By 1850, literacy rates ranged from 90% in Sweden to as low as 5-10% in Russia. By 1900, many countries saw improvements, with countries like the U.S. and Sweden reaching near-total literacy.
What were some of the public health challenges during the Industrial Revolution?
Overpopulation, poverty, and poor sanitation were major issues, leading to political efforts to improve public health by the second half of the 19th century, ultimately reducing health inequalities and increasing life expectancy.
