The Industrial Revolution Flashcards
What is the industrial revolution?
Madam middle of the 18th century a series of remarkable inventions led to the economic revolution in England which came to be known as industrial revolution .It transformed the entire economy and society of 18th century England and other countries subsequently.
This great and radical transformation in industry which fundamentally altered all the methods techniques and organisations of product and distribution is known as industrial revolution.
What are the features of the industrial revolution?
The domestic system of production was replaced by a factory system.
Manual labours were replaced by machines.
Small scale production give way to large scale production.
Simple tools were replaced by powerful machines.
Who were capitalists?
The factories including the resources and the means of production were owned by rich merchants known as capitalists or people who own the capitals.
Explain a few causes of the industrial revolution in England.
The few causes are:
1.Stable government:
Political stability in England provided conditions that were favourable for economic growth.
2. Availability of coal and iron:
Coal and iron the two essential resources necessary for growth of industries were available in abundance in North England. Many industrial towns and cities were located in this region.
3. Agriculture revolution:
There was an agricultural revolution that preceded the industrial revolution this was due to consolidation of land holdings through the enclosure, improvement in agriculture, rotation of crops introduction to new farming machines etc
What do you mean by surplus capital?
Economic growth and increased overseas trade led to accommodation of enormous wealth in England.
This surplus capital was used in the development of new industries and setting new factories.
State some economic impact of the industrial revolution
Urbanization, factory system, division of labour ,capitalism and economic disparity, expansion of trade and commerce.
Explain urbanization
The industrial revolution led to growth of many towns and cities where factories were set up and so people from villages begin to migrate to these industrial towns in search of jobs. The shifting of population from rural to urban areas was an important development of the industrial revolution.
What do you mean by the factory system? how did the laborers work over there?
The industrial revolution replaced the domestic system
with factory system. Workers went to factories and machine made goods were manufactured in large scale. The work was divided between the people according to the ability and capability each person or group of people to perform the specialized task.
What do you mean by capitalism?
The industrial revolution led to concentration of wealth in the hands of capitalists - a few rich people who own the means of production or capitals. This is called capitalism.
What do you mean by economic disparity?
The vast majority of workers were employed by the capitalists in their factories and worked under them for wages. The workers were exploited by the capitalist and lived in poverty and misery thus there was a wide gulf between the rich capitalist and the poor workers.
Economic inequalities lead to social inequalities which eventually lead to the growth of socialism.
How did advent of machine bring unemployment with itself?
The advent of machines lead to a lot of people losing the jobs as pure people were required to produce the same good in large scale. Unemployment gave rise to a general anger against the machines.
How was the expansion of trade and commerce affected due to the industrial revolution?
Large scale production of goods lead to expansion of trade and commerce surplus goods were sold to other countries increasing profits made the industrialised Nations rich and prosperous.
Trade also expanded because steam ships were being used which was superior to the early ships.
Why was there a need for colonies?
As production increased further the Nations began to look for new markets for the sale of finish products and so there was a need for colonies.
These colonies were used not only as ready market for manufactured products but also as constant suppliers of raw material.
What led to the first world war?
Colonial rival between industrialised countries eventually lead to first world war.
What were the disadvantages of the industrial revolution?
With the advent of machines less number of workers we’re needed to work in the factories. This led to unemployment and poor living conditions for the poor.
Due to the much use of machines for large scale production the air and water were getting polluted as well as soil contamination
