Hobsbawm -The Industrial Revolution

Introduction to SociologyMonday, 1/30/12

The Great Transformation

Historical conditions out of which modern social science emerges; events that set themes we still work with today.● capitalism● labor and technology● urbanization● political revolution● social inequality● social change

World of the 1780s

Where did wealth come from? What was the agrarian problem?

How was it managed? In Europe? In thecolonies? (pages 11-16)

The Merchant

Why is the merchant a key figure to understand for this time period? (pages 19-20)

Enlightenment

What do we mean by this concept? How does it relate to the idea of progress? (pages 20-22)

Britain and the Industrial Revolution

Why was Britain the center of industrialization?

Britain and the Industrial Revolution

Why was Britain the center of industrialization?● War = monopoly● An industry suited to industrializing = cotton● Economic structure that allowed for it =

colonialism (pages 31-37)

Cotton and the Slave Trade

● Cotton industry - there was money to be made and it was rapidly expanding, so it attracted investement

● Machinery was cheap, easy to construct, and promised quick returns

● Raw materials - extracted from colonies, thus expanding supply

(page 34)

Coal Industry

Why was this significant for industrialization?Capital goods - used to produce other stuff(page 42-43)

What was "railway mania"? (page 45) What does it have to do with accumulation & surplus in capitalism?

Problems for Capitalism?

Falling rate of profitWhy does this happen?How is it addressed?

Problems for Capitalism?

Falling rate of profitWhy does this happen?How is it addressed?

1. Lower wages2. Mechanize!

(page 41)

So Who's Gonna Do All this Work?

The Enclosure Acts (pages 48-51)