Section 5.
5: The Spread of Industrialization - Super Detailed Notes
Economic and Philosophical Impact of Industrialization
● Economic Importance: As the Industrial Revolution spread, its role in the global
economy grew. Countries that industrialised became wealthier and more influential.
Factories and technological innovations increased production and trade, changing
global economics.
● Ralph Waldo Emerson's View: Initially, Emerson, a famous American thinker,
celebrated industrial technology as a tool to shape nature to benefit humans. Over
time, he and others became more cautious about its impact, recognizing both
benefits and risks.
First Industrial Revolution – Key Innovations and Resources
1. The Steam Engine and Transportation Revolution:
○ Steam Engine Invention: James Watt's improvement of the steam engine in
1765 was revolutionary. His engine used coal to create steam, powering
factories and leading to mechanised textile production.
○ Railroads and Ships: Steam engines powered trains and ships, allowing
goods and people to move further and faster. Factories and markets could be
connected over large distances, fueling economies and spreading
industrialization.
○ Increased Access to Resources: As railroads and steamships expanded,
they reached new resources (e.g., coal and iron) essential for industrial
growth. Transporting these materials became cheaper and more reliable,
fueling further industrialization.
2. Coal Revolution:
○ Coal as a Power Source: Coal replaced water as the main power source for
factories, as it was more reliable and mobile. Coal-powered steam engines
could be built almost anywhere, giving industries more flexibility.
○ Coaling Stations: Strategic refuelling points for steamships, such as Cape
Colony (South Africa) and various Pacific islands, became essential for global
trade routes, enabling long-distance travel and trade without relying on wind.
3. Water Transportation and Steamships:
○ Steamship Advancements: Coal-powered steam ships could travel without
depending on wind, making ocean and river travel faster and more
predictable. Ships could go against currents, even upstream on rivers,
reaching speeds of up to five miles per hour.
○ Replacement of Sailing Ships: Over time, steam-powered ships replaced
sailing ships, especially in international travel, because they were faster and
less dependent on natural conditions.
4. Iron Production:
○ Coal in Iron Making: Coal was crucial in iron production, enabling higher
output and larger iron furnaces.
○ Coke: A refined form of coal, coke allowed the production of higher quality
iron.
○ Wrought Iron by Henry Cort (1794): Cort developed a method to produce
wrought iron, a more workable and flexible form than cast iron, making it ideal
for machinery and construction.
Second Industrial Revolution (Late 19th to Early 20th Century)
1. Main Innovations: Focus shifted from textiles and steam power to steel, chemicals,
precision machinery, and electronics.
2. Key Players: The United States, Great Britain, and Germany led this wave of
industrialization, each focusing on specific areas:
○ Steel Production with the Bessemer Process (1856): Allowed mass
production of steel, which was stronger than iron. Blasting air through molten
iron removed impurities, making it possible to create large structures, like
buildings and bridges.
○ Oil and Petroleum: Oil wells drilled in the mid-1800s provided a new energy
source. Initially, kerosene from petroleum was used for lighting and heating.
Later, gasoline became vital for automobiles as car production rose in the
early 1900s.
○ Electricity: The invention of electrical generators led to the first public power
station in London in 1882. This enabled widespread electrification, including
street lighting and electric streetcars in the 1890s.
3. Advances in Communication:
○ Telephone: Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876, allowing
real-time voice communication over long distances.
○ Improved Transmitters: Thomas Edison’s 1886 design made phones clearer
and more practical for everyday use.
○ Radio: Italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi sent the first transatlantic radio
signal in 1901, eventually leading to radio as a popular mass medium with
global impact.
Global Trade, Migration, and the Expansion of Infrastructure
1. New Modes of Transportation:
○ Railroads and Canals: These were built in the United States, supported by
government funding, to transport resources (e.g., coal, iron, timber) across
vast distances.
○ Transcontinental Railroad (Completed 1869): Connected the U.S. from
coast to coast, stimulating industrial growth and development of interior
regions.
2. The Telegraph:
○ Instant Communication: The telegraph allowed instant messages over long
distances, revolutionising communication for exploration, military, and
business purposes.
○ Global Connectivity: Railroads, steamships, and the telegraph created a
web of connectivity, linking farmers, miners, manufacturers, and consumers
worldwide for the first time in history.
3. Economic Motivations:
○ Capital Investment: The demand for investment capital (money for business
ventures) drove both domestic and international development, pushing
industries to expand.
○ Colonisation and Resource Access: To secure resources and protect trade
routes, industrialised countries established colonies, gaining control over
areas rich in raw materials like Africa and Asia.
4. New Trade and Migration Patterns:
○ Beyond Coastal Cities: While earlier trade focused on coastal cities,
railroads and steamships made it possible to access inland regions, opening
up new areas for trade and migration.
○ Increased Migration: Railroads and steamships made long-distance
migration easier, leading to population shifts and global economic integration.
