The Industrial Revolution - Essay Example

Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution Introduction Industrial revolution are events that occurred which led to ashift from agrarian economy to an industry dominated region where manufacturing was done using machines. Industrial revolution era was characterized by change in technological application, socioeconomic and cultural perception of the people. from crude wood based machines, steel and iron was adopted as the basis of machines, new sources of energy such as coal, steam engine, electricity and petroleum was adopted (Wyatt, 2009). The period also witnessed the invention of more efficient machines such as the spinning jenny and other power driven production tools which increased production at a much lower cost. Arrangement in the industry movement was affected, with specialized manpower emerging as the most dynamic and profitable approach. Transport and communication also witnessed significant changes as automobiles, airplanes, telegraph and radios were introduced to enhance interaction and transportation of essential commodities. The revolution is, therefore basis of current day modernization as it provided current advances in various approaches of life across the globe. Origin of the Industrial Revolution The era of importance in modernization first occurred in European region and changed Britain in the 1800s when traditional approaches were replaced by cost effective machines and tools. Prior to this period, people adopted subsistence living in rural communities where they engaged in food crop and subsistence farming to supplement family income and resources. As a result, the income for average land owners was difficult as it could not support the food, clothing and housing needs of the people at a time when disease epidemic was common. Manufacturing was also conducted in small scale in homes or even rural homes (cottage industries) where crude handheld tools and machines were used (Wyatt, 2009). Britain emerged during this period as the first country to introduce numerous approaches which gave room for the development of this era before the entire Europe followed suit and picked the cue. Numerous factors necessitated Britain to be the first country to experience the revolution before Germany, France or even Spain that were also in a position to initiate the era. For example, Britain possessed large reserve of natural resources which was the basis of energy used in industries during this period across Europe. Britain also was politically stable during this period as compared to other European countries due to its significant influence as the leading colonial power with colonies in America, Asia and Africa. Countries colonized by Britain therefore increased the supply of the much needed raw materials to feed and power the industries and also acted as the market for the processed goods from the country’s industries. Course of Industrial Revolution The era occurred in important phases, affecting major parts of English economy including industries, agriculture and even education of England and other countries that later adopted the trend. Dramatic changes were witnessed in rural areas where agriculture was initially subsistence and practiced only to meet the food needs of the people as opposed to large scale. In discussing the course of the industrial revolution, changes to different sectors of the economy must be separately discussed to bring out how the process revolutionized practices and perceptions (Wyatt, 2009). Before this era, agriculture dominated the British economy but the output was insignificant as it was practiced in subsistence and the farms divided into small ineffective plots. The enclosure system contributed to slowed economic growth, poverty and hunger as farmers practiced remote approaches that lacked any scientific basis. Despite the poor agricultural practices, land was of political and economic significance with aristocrats and gentries owning large chunk of land in the countryside while their tenants practiced the subsistence farming. However, industrial revolution made significant impact in the sector as it led to the adoption of new farming tools, the use of fertilizer and more modern harvesting and post harvest techniques. Such approaches improved productivity and agricultural productivity in England and by extension Europe, providing the needed impetus for growth of industries. Urbanization and industrialization that was created by the revolution improved the position of agriculture in Europe as it acted as the sole source of raw materials and employment in the countryside. The era also introduced the approach of area specialization which saw different parts of England specialize in farming of specific needed crops. For example, southern England focused on grain farming while other parts like Scotland and Leicester was engaged in cattle and sheep farming to supply animal products to the food, textile and medical industries. Ancient notes found in different parts of Britain during the inception of industrial revolution depicted the level of specialization with paper notes from Yorkshire and Herefordshire bearing animal portraits. Increase in foreign trade and population that occurred in Europe during the mid-18th century increased the demand for processed goods in England, Germany and other European countries. Industrial revolution led to mass production of goods by replacing water and animal power with coal and steam power together with new machines and technology. Steam power introduction played a major role in the development of industrial revolution as it enhanced rail transport, replace animal and water power and made industrial production affordable and efficient. James Watt further introduced new improvements to steam power leading to the emergence of rotative engine. Steam power rotative engines increased the speed of machine and revolutionized the transport system in England and other parts of Europe. Apart from steam fuel, industrial revolution led to the introduction of coal which produced the steam by heating large vessels with water in an enclosed setting. Though coal was already being used in England before the industrial revolution era, industrialization enhanced the mining process leading to an increase in coal production. As a result, coal replaced animals and water in the production of steam to power factories and run railway and steamships across Europe in transport of raw materials to the factories and processed goods to the market. Cotton and metal ware industries also witnessed significant growth due to the introduction of new source of energy. Glass, soap and earthenware production increased and demand from markets in Europe, Africa, America and other parts of the world was met (Smith, Rosenband & Horn, 2010). The introduction of Richard Arkwright’s water frame machine in the textile industry also improved the efficiency of the sector and improved the performance of the cotton spinning wheel. Weaving of cotton was also revolutionized especially in Manchester, making Britain a major player in the cotton industry in the region. Just like in Herefordshire, the notes which were printed and issued in Lancashire during this period had textile industry representation to show the specialization of the region. Changes also occurred in shipbuilding and maritime trade which led to an improvement in water transport to different parts of England and Europe (Dutta, 2006). Britain had over the years before industrial revolution relied on maritime trade due to its geographical position and surrounding nearby water bodies. Shipping increased in relevance and importance due to industrial revolution which led to an increase in the demand for raw materials and processed goods within and beyond the country. Coastal, foreign and slave trade were at their peak prior to this era and such activities were commonly practices within the water bodies in the country. The emergence of steam and coal as an alternative source of energy further contributed to the growth of maritime transport and ship building during this period. Steel and iron was used to build ship which improved the durability, stability and safety within large water bodies where trade and slave trade was being conducted. By 1819, steamships were commonly used in the region to navigate rivers and oceans in the country and beyond to other parts of the world (Dutta, 2006). Increase in foreign trade and population that occurred in Europe during the mid-18th century increased the demand for processed goods in England, Germany and other European countries. Industrial revolution led to mass production of goods by replacing water and animal power with coal and steam power together with new machines and technology. Steam power introduction played a major role in the development of industrial revolution as it enhanced rail transport, replace animal and water power and made industrial production affordable and efficient. James Watt further introduced new improvements to steam power leading to the emergence of rotative engine. Steam power rotative engines increased the speed of machine and revolutionized the transport system in England and other parts of Europe (Dutta, 2006). Infrastructure and architecture also witnessed significant changes during this period as new approaches for landscaping, drawing and construction materials emerged. Steel and iron was used in the construction industry which contributed to the growth of factories and warehouses within and beyond England. The expansion of the railway and rail transport in the country and region also connected different parts of the continent and promoted trade during the industrial revolution era (Smith, Rosenband & Horn, 2010). With ease in transport and economies of scale in the production process, goods became cheaper and easily available within the market. Steel, steam and coal energy also provided new impetus to the growth of ports and cities in Europe during the industrial revolution which further improved transport, trade and boosted the country’s economy. Industrial revolution in other parts of Europe and America Though England was the pioneer of industrial revolution, other parts of Europe adopted the trend including Germany, France, Italy and Russia, setting the countries for economic growth and prosperity. France has equal economic and industrial capability to compete with the Great Britain during the industrial revolution era. With growth within the British Isles picking momentum, France textile factories witnessed significant growth (Elliott, 2014). French manufacturers concentrated in the production of finished products especially luxury products such as woven silk, china and leather goods. Industrial revolution led to the emergence of the development of the first silk factory in Lyons in 1830s leading to changes within the labor sector in the country such as the introduction of minimum wages. Belgium also witnessed significant changes during this period due to its rich iron ore and coal deposits and a strong inclination towards textile manufacturing. German adopted new methods of production at a much later date as the country was fragmented into smaller regions under different political and economic leadership. However, the custom union of 1834 provided impetus for the production of heavy industries in areas where mineral deposits were found. For example, Upper Silesia, Saarland and the Ruhrgebiet region pioneered industrial revolution in Germany due to the presence of minerals and the development of railway transport system. High standards of training in Germany also facilitated faster industrial revolution as compared to other countries in Europe which also copied the proceeds of England. In Netherlands, industrial revolution only began in 1860 because the major parts of the country was covered in waterways and natural resources were limited as compared to other parts of Europe (Elliott, 2014). In the United States, horsepower was the common source of energy in early factories which were later substituted with water, both which were slow and inefficient. Industrial revolution first entered the United States through New England and northeastern United States due to the presence of fast moving rivers. The first cotton manufacturing factory was established in America by the Beverly cottons which provided significant impetus to the development of other industries. Three major developments occurred in the United States due to the arrival of industrial revolution including transportation, source of energy and refinement of production processes. The cotton and the sewing machines are some of the first innovations in the country which revolutionized the cotton industry in the United States. In the southern parts of the country, cotton farming significantly changed due to the introduction of the sewing and ginning machine as demand for raw materials grew tremendously. The development of interchangeable parts for machines also influenced the development of the machines used in factories, an innovation which influenced the second revolution in the country (Bottomley, 2014). Significant Achievements of Industrial Revolution Industrial revolution in Britain, Germany, France, and the united states of even japan had significant impacts on the economy and the political arrangements. Within the agricultural sector, industrial revolution led to a change in the farming approaches, increase in farm output and provided more impetus to industries and the economy. The enclosure movement and improvement in the farming techniques led an improvement in the agricultural yield in Europe and the United States. Before the industrial revolution, farms in different parts of Europe were fallow and only planted one crop, leading to exhaustion and overutilization of the farms. However, the emergence of more advanced methods of production and farming improved the yield as farmers used fertilizers and ploughed crops based on actual information provided by studies conducted by experts (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, 2007). Before the industrial revolution era, textile manufacture in different countries in Europe and also in the United States occurred within homes and was done part time. As a result, the volume of products produced was significantly minimal, affecting the profits and returns from such activities. Several changes improved the sector during the industrial revolution era as more efficient and cost effective tools were introduced to meet the needs of the market. However, such positive developments within the sector were not accepted by all players especially the Ludds who violently rioted against the mechanization of the sector. For example, the introduction of the John Kay’s flying shuttle increased productivity and efficiency while the Lewis Paul’s roller spinner reduced the need for more employees within the industries. Such changes evidently affected the relationship between the employers and the employees as most workers were against the introduction of machines to meet the needs of the factories as opposed to human workers (Allen, 2015). One of the long lasting implications of industrial revolution in different cities across the world is urbanization which was created by an increase in population of the people living within the cities (Kowalski, 2015). Before the industrial revolution, over 80% of the population lived in the rural areas where they were engaged in subsistence farming to meet their food needs alone. In 1850, for the very first time in the history of the world, more people in Great Britain moved from the rural areas to the cities, leading to the emergence of settlements within the cities. Other countries that adopted industrialization in Europe and North America experienced such a shift of settlement, further pushing the forces of urbanization to towns and cities (Goloboy, 2008). In England, urbanization continued to occur through the 19th century as towns and cities emerged such as the city of London where the population increased from two million to over 40 million within a few years. Apart from the main towns such as London, other small towns such as Manchester emerged in the country, offering alternative settlement for industry employees in the country (Kowalski, 2015). Manchester had a cool climate which favored textile and cotton production and development of residential settlements for the textile industry workers. Manchester was also favored by its close proximity to the Atlantic port of Liverpool and the coalfields of Lancashire which provided the much needed energy to power the industries (Goloboy, 2008). Urbanization came with its challenges especially on life expectancy, the development of diseases and adequate management of waste and congestion of people in the cities. As a result, challenges such as urban overcrowding, poor diets, and poor sanitation and public health challenges emerged which affected members of the middle class who lived in congested areas. The densely packed urban center where the majority of the working class was staying was poorly designed, giving room for the spread of a number of diseases such as cholera. Roads into these urban settlements were muddy without any sidewalk and houses were constructed joined to each other without special amenities such as toilets or even a sewerage system. As a result, diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and tuberculosis among other conditions increased in prevalence and contributed to high mortality and morbidity among the working class (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, 2005). First factories that emerged immediately after the industrial revolution also practiced forced child labor, denying children the chance to learn and develop psychologically. For example, textile industry employed child labor to operate the spinning mules due to a decrease in the income that children earned as compared to the adults. Some of the machines used in these industries were easy to operate, thus providing the impetus to exploit children by factories that wanted to maximize their profits by reducing the operational costs. Such tedious and dangerous factory works affected the health of the children in a number of ways, thus reducing their normal development and contribution to the growth of the society as adults (Kowalski, 2015). The intervention of the British parliament gave room for sweeping changes, thus allowing for the abolition of child labor in the United Kingdom and also other countries that adopted some of these recommendations. Impacts of Industrial Revolution on Politics In the United States, industrial revolution contributed to the reemergence of new political approaches which shaped modern day labor relations and the development of employment laws. The civil war, for example, represented the conflict that pitied opponents of agrarian economy who depended on slave laborers and an industrial society driven by machines and not slaves. As the domestic economy of the United States expanded due to industrial revolution, its influence on the international font also changed leading to the development of relations with other countries such as japan. Urban industry employees also became vocal, agitating for worker rights and the right working environment for most employees, leading to the emergence of the political class which encouraged legislation in fair labor standard (Goloboy, 2008). Conclusion The industrial revolution marked an era in history that redefined the world and contributed to the emergence of new social, economic and political order in different countries. Countries like Great Britain emerged as major economic and political forces, leading to their incursion into African countries in the scramble for colonization. The fever also caught up with other countries especially the United States and japan and this led to a change from slave based labor to the use of machines in industries. The economic performance of several economies today can be attributed to the foundation that was established during the industrial revolution. References Allen, R. C. (2015). The high wage economy and the industrial revolution: a restatement. Economic History Review, 68(1), 1-22. doi:10.1111/ehr.12079 Bottomley, S. (2014). Patenting in England, Scotland and Ireland during the Industrial Revolution, 1700-1852. Explorations in Economic History, 54(1), 48-63. doi:10.1016/j.eeh.2014.08.002 Dutta, M. (2006). Chinas Industrial Revolution and Economic Presence. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific Publishing Company. Elliott, S. (2014). Britains First Industrial Revolution. History Today, 64(5), 49-53. Goloboy, J. L. (2008). Industrial Revolution: People and Perspectives. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. Hillstrom, K., & Hillstrom, L. C. (2005). Industrial Revolution in America: Iron and Steel. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. Hillstrom, K., & Hillstrom, L. C. (2007). Industrial Revolution in America. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. Kowalski, K.M. (2015). How the Industrial Revolution AFFECTS YOU. Appleseeds, 17(4), 26. Smith, M. R., Rosenband, L. N., & Horn, J. (2010). Reconceptualising the Industrial Revolution. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. Wyatt, L. T. (2009). The Industrial Revolution. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Read More