Background Info

Prior to 18th c. levels of pop flowed in a cyclical pattern depending on natural phenomena (crop failures, plagues etc.)

During the 18th c. Europe’s pop sky rocketed from 120 to 190 million

Prussia, Sweden, Spain, France, and England experienced tremendous pop increases

Why were pops increasing in Europe?

Decline in mortality rates

Better food supplies

Although disease was still a problem, birth rates were significant enough to keep population rates high

The Beginnings of Industrialization

1. Agricultural revolution

Enclosure movement

Increased food supplies led to an increase in population that boosted demand for manufactured goods and provided labor for factories.

2. Abundant natural resources

Britain had the natural resources needed for industrialization: Water power, coal, iron

ore, rivers and harbors.

3. Political stability

Enabled Britain to devote its energies and resources to economic expansion, industrialization and overseas trade.

Created a climate for progress

4. Factors of production Britain had all the resources needed to produce goods

and services including

LAND, LABOR, CAPITAL= LLC= FACTORS OF PRODUCTION

5. Technological advances in the textile industry

Improved the quality and speed of cotton cloth production

Boosted profits

Spurred other industrial improvements

6. Entrepreneurs

Provided organization and management skills and took financial risks to develop new businesses

7. Building factories

Allowed industry to move out of the home and into a central location

8. Railroad boom

Provided an inexpensive way to transport raw materials and manufactured products

Created new jobs

Industrialization Case Study: Manchester

1. Poor city dwellers

Because no plans, sanitary codes, or building regulations controlled the rampant growth of English cities, the poor lacked adequate housing and many were forced to live in dark, filthy overcrowded slums under very unhealthy and unsafe conditions.

2. Factory workers

Because factory owners wanted to keep their machines running for as many hours as possible, workers were forced to work long hours for starvation wages, often under dangerous and unhealthy conditions

Later working conditions and the standard of living improved

3. Wealthy merchants, factory owners, shippers

They gained wealth and status in society and joined a growing middle class of skilled workers, professionals, business people, and well-to- do farmers.

4. Children

Children as young as six began to work in factories with their families for long hours under brutal conditions

Child labor laws later brought some reforms

5. Lower middle class of factory overseers and skilled workers

They enjoyed a comfortable standard of living

6. Large landowners and aristocrats

Because some factory owners, merchants, and investment bankers grew wealthier, they lost some status, respect and power but continued to look down on those who gained wealth in business.

Long term consequences of I.R. on the environment

The environment was polluted and natural resources were depleted.

Long term consequences of the I.R. on education

Educational opportunities expanded in response to a need for skilled and professional workers.