The Industrial Revolution

Revolution vs. Evolution-Drastic Change

-French and American Revolutions

-Takes a few years

-Slow and subtle change

- Evolution of the world takes eons

What inventions are around today that were not around 30 years ago?

What things didn’t exist 100 years ago?

What was it?

• Rapid industrial growth in the mid 1700’s in England

• Industrialism: the process in which manufacturing based on machine power becomes widespread in an area

• Spreads to other countries as well, even the U.S.

What was it?

• Many people move to cities–Urbanization: a growth in the

proportion of people living in cities

• Changes the nature of work for most people–Move to factories instead of

farmsWHY!?

Importance of the Agricultural Revolution

1. More effective ways of producing food

2. Increased food production3. Improved health and diet for people4. Population explosion5. Greater demand for goods6. More factories needed to meet

demands

Importance of the Agricultural Revolution

• Enclosure movement: consolidate the number of farms in Britain –No more common land; smaller farms

were condensed into larger farms – Smaller farmers lose their land to

larger farmers• Need to find new work go to cities!

Importance of the Agricultural Revolution

Fewer farmers needed

Factories need more workers

Industrial Revolution

Pros of the Revolution!

• Technological growth• Medical growth• New wealth• Ushered in a “modern era”

Evils of the Revolution!

• Women and children worked 14-16 hour days under life threatening conditions

• Wages were low in factories• Slums developed• Crimes increased

Why England?

• Plentiful labor (both skilled and unskilled)

• Wealthy investors• Good harbors• Abundant natural resources• Favorable climate• Large domestic and colonial markets

New terms from the Revolution

• Corporation- form of business in which stock in the business can be bought or sold; investors get a share of the profits in exchange

New terms from the Revolution

• Laissez faire economics governments should stay out of business and not control the economy – Adam Smith