How Industrial Revolution Affected Social Life in the Growing Urban Centers - Research Paper Example

How Industrial Revolution Affected Social Life in the Growing Urban Centers The Industrial Revolution is the time consisting of vast economic and social changes that were enhanced by development of machinery as well as mass production ways. It began in early 1760 in Great Britain and extended through to the nineteenth century. It was a result of the movement of different immigrants groups into the European nations; “some immigrants arrived with knowledge of industrial methods and technologies.1” Industrial Revolution is associated with disruption of social practices as well as livelihoods because it enhanced displacement of millions of people. The growth of factories triggered the invention of other industries which resulted to population boom in specific areas. As a result of this, major urban centers quested for the building of houses, shops, and other public amenities in order to meet the needs of the workers. In tandem to this, the research paper will provide detailed information on how industrial revolution affected the social life of people that settled in the growing urban centers. Perseverance It is evident that the current living conditions of slums in many countries are as a result of industrialization. Industrialization leads to people settling together in areas near their source of livelihood. Unfortunately, the coming together of many people in a given area leads to deterioration of living conditions. For instance, majority of the people in the slums live in very poor conditions because of the stretch they impose on the minimized resources. In addition to living in poor structures, they also lack public amenities such as toilets. Additionally, people in slums buy foods in very dirty environments. All these factors results to not only injuries, but also ill health. This is also evidenced by what took place in early 19th century as a result of industrial revolution. The industrial revolution resulted to the building of shanties as well as overcrowding of people in unsanitary tenement houses. This was as a result of high demand for labor by the industries without regarding the livelihood of the laborers. It is also evident that people in urban centers shared their houses with the animals of the masters. This is evidenced by majority of the laborers spending their nights together with the horses of their masters. In connection to this, Goloboy also asserts that “homes were not occupied by a single family or even two or three families; but each room, from garret to cellar was filled with a family of several persons, and sometimes with two or more2.” Additionally, it is also evident that child abuse originated from industrial revolutions. According to Salisbury and Sherman, poverty was at its stake during that time, and it required every person including children to work in order to afford a meal. Hardworking The invention of the industries also haltered with the pace at which people used to do their respective chores. It made them work faster and more accurate. This is evidenced by Salisbury and Sherman in which they claim that industrial revolution hampered with the rhythm of labor. Workers in the industries were forced to toil unrelentingly in order to keep pace with not only the machines, but also the schedules provide by the company owners3. It is also evident that the discipline portrayed by the employees in many organizations currently originated from the practice of the workers of the 19th century. This is evidenced by the method used by the employers in the industrial revolution era in maintaining the discipline of their employees. For instance, Cassar, Richard and Terry claim that most of the employers in the 19th century used fines to maintain the workplace discipline4. Employees’ consciousness The sharing of problems, ideas, and ways of life contribute immensely towards understanding some aspects of life. It makes some happenings in life more apparent to individuals. It is also the sharing of common problems as well as goals that there are many social unions in the world. Almost all current unions in the world are the products of industrial revolution that took place in early 19th century. This is evidenced by what took place during that era. The living together of people in the same areas as well as laboring in the same areas under same oppressions, grappling similar problems during industrial revolution era led to not only emergence of socialization, but also commiseration of people. It also led to people joining together and coming up with trade unions and civic organizations. In tandem to this, Salisbury and Sherman claim that “the solidarity portrayed by many work unions currently is the product of the solidarity that was portrayed by artisans and craftsmen of membership in guilds5.” Additionally, he asserts that these groups were responsible for the formation of trade unions in England and other parts in 1850s. The unions as well as trade organizations enable workers to protest against what they considered oppression in the working environment. To justify this, Salisbury and Sherman “postulate that sometimes workers through unions turned to violence against what they saw as threats from industrialization by destroying the new machines6.” In other words, industrialization led to the coming together of people from different areas to share same problems and oppressions which as a result led to employees perceiving themselves as a separate class. Gender segregation and women unification Gender segregation is evident in most organizations and societies. In addition to being barred from doing most night chores, most women are also barred from holding top positions at work. However, gender segregation is not a new practice in the society. Its occurrence and advancement was lowered by the emergence of industrial revolution. For instance, it is evident that during the formation of work unions in the industrial revolution women were not considered; they were barred from both joining and contributing in any way to the unions. This is evidenced by the work of Briggs in which he claims that “most women were not invited to join worker organizations7.” However, it is also evident that it is the industrial revolution that led to women coming together with common goals and coming up with trade associations. This is justified by Salisbury and Sherman claim that women were forced to forge trade associations in order to air out their views. Additionally, it is also evident that industrial revolution led to many women stopping their overdependence habit. To justify this, they also claim that most women flocked to the textile factories so as to work and contribute to their respective families. Urban un-environmentalists Industrialization is also associated with extensive pollution of the environment. In addition to resulting to effluents being released to the rivers, it also leads to people congesting in a given area and as a result leading to dirt and other human wastes being released to the rivers. For instance, it is evident that industrial revolution led to people changing from being environmental observers to polluters. Majority of them allowed roads to be built, trees to be cut down as well as ores and mines to be dug out; hampering with the beauty of the environment. Additionally, rivers that were once known safe for both drinking and survival of fish were polluted by not only industrial wastes, but also human wastes. Inadequacy of sewers, toilet facilities as well as clean water led to people letting garbage as well as animal wastes to pile in streets until heavy rains carried them to the rivers. It is also evident that it is the industrial revolution that led to people disregarding their health by consuming dirty water. Increase in crimes The coming together of different people is also associated with emergence of uncouth behaviors. This is as a result of combination of different characters as well as reduction of resources and job opportunities. For instance, it is evident that increase in urbanization results to increase in crime rates as well as antisocial behaviors such as immorality. In connection to this, it is evident that industrial revolution resulted to the increase of crime rates in the urban areas. According to Salisbury and Sherman, “people in the upper classes complained about crime and the social disorder it implied8.” Additionally, he claims that urbanization as a result of industrialization led to cities becoming hotbeds of crime. For instance, he argues that early stages of industrialization were associated with rise of theft and robbery in cities. Additionally, the crowding of people in the cities provided a good platform for pickpockets. In clubs, dance halls as well as taverns men fell into play of women; most men occasionally fell into brawling violence over ladies and brawling. It is also evident that it is the industrialization that led to increase in the rate of alcohol consumption which as a result led to outbreaks of fighting. The emergence of gaps as well as widening of gaps between the rich and the poor was also as a result of industrialization. Majority of the people who believed to be richer than their subjects developed hatred as well as those under impoverished conditions looked down upon themselves resulting to short tempers. The creation and advancement of gaps between the rich and the poor as well as tempting array of goods made stealing part of the urban lifestyle during the industrial revolution era. Law-enforcement Introduction of law enforcement in urban areas is also as a result of the coming together of many people from different backgrounds. In most occasions, the coming together of many people is associated with emergence of crimes as well as un-societal behaviors. As introduced above, industrial revolution resulted to urbanization which led to increase of crimes. To combat crimes from advancing, “the Parliament under the leadership of Robert Peel was forced to establish the first modern police force in London in 18299.” The police force was assigned the duty of patrolling the cities in order to deter crimes. From this, it is evident that it is the industrial revolution that led to the reinstallation of sanity in the society by advocating formation of police force. Adoption of risk taking behavior Survival in this world is for the fittest. One has to work hard in order to afford a meal and meet other family needs. Unfortunately, some of the works are too demanding; they lead to contraction of diseases that may lead to the loss of lives. Despite knowing this, it is evident that demands do not allow people to choose the types of jobs to do; they make people to become risk takers. This was also evident during the industrial revolution era. In addition to creating job opportunities, it is evident that industrialization resulted to the loss of lives. Its negative impacts however were more severe in poorer regions than in the areas resided by the rich. For instance, it is evident majority of the deaths occurred in the cities than in rural areas because of the risks associated with industrialization. Majority of the people knew industrialization was bad, but it was the only way of livelihood. Thus, many people still moved from rural areas to urban centers in quest of industrial jobs despite the machines maiming workers, and caves and explosions killing miners. Various types of diseases also cropped from the mining and factories, but people still held on and continued working in the fields as well as in the industries. This is justified by Salisbury and Sherman’s claim that “cholera epidemics struck Europe several times, causing great panic as people in city after city awaited the arrival of the illness10.” Traditional medication Some people today still believe in the past practices. This opposition to change was first portrayed during the industrial revolution. Apart from resulting to new diseases, it is also evident that industrial revolution was also associated with emergence of new medication methods. For instance, it is evident that industrialization resulted to the use of surgery. However, it is evident that the expensive lifestyle as a result of industrialization made many sufferers quest for traditional medications. The employees believed in the effectiveness of herbal drugs as well as use of natural remedies in curing their ailments. In connection to this, Goloboy claims that people only turned to surgery as the last resort. Change of eating habit and dressing Most of the foods consumed today are as a result of industrialization. The foods were probably introduced in 19th century in order to increase the shelf-life of the workers. Industrial revolution era led to the people changing their ways of eating; majority of them started eating balanced diet because of the availability of many nutritious foods. Despite causing many deaths as a result of congestion and emergence of new diseases, it is evident that the era also led to the survival of many children because of the introduced cloths and healthy foods. In addition to this, it is also evident that the era led to the people becoming cleaner than before. Additionally, the quest for healthy services currently was as a result of the introduction of hospitals and laboratories during the industrial revolution. In connection to this, Salisbury and Sherman also claim that “hospitals proliferated and increasingly became places to observe the sick and gather information during the era of industrial revolution11.” Adoption of new family ideas and ways of life Change of environment correlates also with changes in ways of life. For instance, it is evident that family lifestyle of urban centers is completely different from that of the rural areas. In most occasions, urban lifestyle is associated with sharing of responsibilities as well as sharing of ideas. Surprisingly, the new formed ideas end up becoming norms for everyone practicing them. In connection to this, it is evident that industrial revolution resulted to evolution of old nations about the family. For instance, the coming together of families, strengthening emotional bonds as well as increase in attention paid to children was as a result of industrial revolution. Many middle-class families believed in family unifications through sharing ideas, emphasizing on emotional bonds, and meeting their children’s demands. Unlike in the past, the era made people to marry because of not only affection, but also because of love and emotional compatibility. Additionally, social ranks became less influential than in the past. According to (xxx) the men still remained the heads of the families, but their impacts not as strong as in the earlier times. The industrial revolution also made people to become more child-centered than before; they gave birth to few children who they can afford to raise. It was also the industrial revolution era that led to separation of children from adults’ way of life. The era led to the children being perceived as not only innocent and impressionable, but also vulnerable persons who required protection against adults’ corruptions. The extensive care given to children especially boys was also as a result of the era; most families that boys had the responsibility of managing the changing urban world. Changing of roles between women and men Industrialization is also associated with adoption of new roles as well as negligence of the past roles. For instance, it is evident that industrialization results to people becoming producers in order to enhance success in industries. However, the change of roles between women and men began to take place in early 19th century. Unlike in the 17th and 18th century where men and women worked together in business from their respective homes, 19th century is defined by men moving out of their respective homes and working in the industries. During this era, the tasks assigned to both women and men became more distinct. Women also became domestic workers; they lost their traditional roles and devoted all their time to their homes and families. In tandem to this, Salisbury and Sherman asserts that industrialization led to women neglecting their responsibility of caring for the children, making sure the house was clean, and the meals were served for industrial jobs. Immorality In most occasions, the coming together of people in a given area is associated with emergence of immorality. This is as a result of either pressure in life or quest of pleasure. However, immorality became apparent in the industrial revolution era because of the life difficulties. The coming together of people in the urban centers led to minimization of resources as well as lack of basic necessities which led to many women turning into prostitutes. This is evidenced by Salisbury and Sherman’s work in which they claim that hard times left both married and unmarried women in desperate straits which made them turn to prostitution in order to survive. Conclusion In conclusion, industrial revolution contributed to too many changes in the society. It led to people becoming perseverant and hardworking. Additionally, it increased self-awareness in people that were residing in urban areas. It also led to division of labor alongside making women neglect their traditional domestic roles. Industrial revolution is also associated with negative outcomes such as diseases, deaths and immorality. Bibliography Briggs, Bonnie-Anne. Global History, Volume Two: The Industrial Revolution to the Age of Globalization. New York: Barron's Educational Series, 2007. Cassar, George, G., Richard, H., Jim and Terry Janice. Cengage Advantage Books: World History: Since 1500: The Age of Global Integration, |, Volume 2. New York: Cengage Learning, 2011. Goloboy, Jennifer. Industrial Revolution: People and Perspectives. New York: ABC-CLIO, 2008. Salisbury, Joyce and Sherman, Dennis. The West in The World: A Mid-length Narrative History, Volume 2. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Read More