U8- Industrialization! Flashcards
The Dual Revolution
The intertwined political and industrial revolutions that significantly reshaped Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The French Revolution (political) and the Industrial Revolution (economic and technological) both had profound impacts on society, politics, and the economy.
Political Revolution (French Revolution)
A major event in world history where France’s monarchy and traditional societal structures were overthrown, leading to the rise of the republican ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Industrial Revolution
A period of rapid industrialization and technological innovation, beginning in Great Britain in the late 18th century and spreading across Europe and North America. It marked a profound shift in the way goods were produced, economies operated, and societies were structured.
Why Great Britain?
Geographic Isolation: Great Britain’s island status allowed it to avoid invasions and maintain stable political conditions, making it ideal for industrial growth.
Natural Resources: Availability of key resources like coal and iron were crucial for powering machines and building infrastructure.
Infrastructure: An established transportation system, especially railroads, facilitated the movement of goods and raw materials.
Legal Systems: Property rights and a stable legal system protected investments, encouraging economic development.
Scientific Innovation: Britain had a tradition of scientific and technological innovation that fostered industrial advances.
Timeline
The Industrial Revolution culminated in the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition in London, which showcased the era’s technological innovations, such as the steam engine, textiles, and machinery.
Separation of Capital and Labor
Industrialization created a division where owners (capitalists) controlled the means of production, while workers (laborers) were hired to sell their labor but didn’t benefit directly from the profits. This separation led to critiques from thinkers like Karl Marx, who argued that it resulted in the exploitation and alienation of workers.
Social and Family Changes
The traditional family economy (where families worked together on farms or small crafts) was disrupted as work shifted to factories.
Women were often confined to domestic roles or low-paying, exploitative work environments known as sweated labor.
Urbanization and Public Health Crises
Urbanization saw a rapid growth of cities as people moved from rural areas to work in factories. However, this led to overcrowding, poor living conditions, and the spread of diseases like cholera, typhus, and dysentery.
These crises led to the implementation of public health reforms to improve sanitation and living conditions in urban areas.
Industrialization on the Continent
Industrialization spread more slowly to continental Europe due to several factors
Political Fragmentation
Countries like Germany had many trade restrictions and lacked a unified market.
Feudal Systems and Serfdom
In some regions, lingering feudal structures limited mobility and access to labor.
Active Government Role
Governments across Europe began to support industrial growth through:
Building infrastructure like railroads and factories.
Implementing protective tariffs to nurture emerging industries.
Capitalism
The economic system that emerged from the Industrial Revolution, characterized by the separation of capital (ownership) and labor (workers).
Capitalism was criticized by socialists and Marxists for its exploitation of workers, inequality, and alienation.
Critiques of Capitalism
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argued that capitalism created an unequal system where the bourgeoisie (owners) exploited the proletariat (workers), advocating for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalist societies.
Reforms
Factory Act of 1833: British legislation that limited child labor and ensured basic education for children working in factories.
Public Health Initiatives: Reforms aimed at improving urban sanitation, water supply, sewage systems, and disease prevention to tackle the poor living conditions in industrial cities.
Liberalism
A political ideology that emerged during the Industrial Revolution, advocating for individual freedoms, limited government, and free-market economies. It was rooted in Enlightenment ideas about equality and democracy.
Conservatism
A political response to the upheaval of the French Revolution and industrialization, emphasizing tradition, social hierarchy, and the preservation of existing institutions. Conservatives favored monarchies and aristocracies.
Socialism
A critique of industrial capitalism, arguing for the collective ownership of the means of production to ensure equality and fair distribution of wealth. It called for an end to the exploitation of workers and was a precursor to later Marxist thought.
Nationalism
A political ideology focused on the idea of national unity, emphasizing the importance of shared culture, language, and history in forming a collective identity. It often sought self-determination for ethnic groups and regions.