INTRODUCTION

The Industrial revolution resulted in the most profound, for- reaching

changes in the history of humanity. And its influence continues to sweep through
out daily lives today. The last 250 years of industrialization have altered our lives
more than any went in the past 12,000 years. The wealthiest countries in the world
today are those that industrialized first.

So, why study the industrial revolution? Study it to understand major

challenges, trends and successes of today- high tech innovations, increased global
wealth, social injustices, global purgation. Patterns and environmental
degradation, in short, we cannot hope to understand modern world without
understanding the industrial revolution.

Industrial revolution at its core occurs when a society shifts from using tools
to make projects to using new sources of energy, such as coal, to power machines
in factories. Here, we will be locking at the origin of revolution in Britain, its
socio- economic- scientific effects and its spread at the global stage.
 BEFORE INDUSTRIES

Before 1750, Britain was an agricultural society, around 80% of people at

that time lived and worked on small forms in rural areas. Most forms harvested
small crops each year and raised small herds of livestock. Despite the small scale
of most English forms, agriculture in perspective, manufacturing, mining and trade
employed relatively few people in Britain. For the most part manufacture of most
goods were basic and powered by people, animals or waterwheels that harnessed
the power of fast- flowering streams.

Towns and villages were small & self contained. The transport was poor and
primary. In most cases, the working day began at sunrise and ended at sunset.
People’s did were inadequate and life expectancy was poor. There was a
relationship between towns and villages. Merchants recruited laborers and weaves
from villages and provided then advance. The different stages of production was
carried out in stages different locations. The finishing was done in big cities like
London. After the coming of factories everything changed with time.
 INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION BEGINS

During the Industrial Revolution, Britain population quadrupled from an

estimated 6.5 million people in 1750 to accured 32.5 million in 1900. This increase
was mainly a result of improved living standards and declining death rates. Britain
was transformed through the development of :-

 Factories and textile mills – thousands of new factories and mills being built
across Britain. These factories relied on large no of workers and machinery
to manufacture massive quantities of goods in one place.
 Modern Towns and Cities – great industrial and commercial cities grew like
London and Manchester as people moved to towns and cities to work.
 New sources of power – the development of steam power and electricity
transformed the manufacturing and agriculture. Supplies of coal became
vital to fuel steam engine and later, electrical power stations.
 Improved transport – as the population grew, towns became and
communications linked by new canals, roads and railway lines. New modes
of transport were also invented to replace horse- drawn carriages. Later new
communication technologies were also invented like telegraph and telephone
systems.
 DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURE

From the mid 1600s, changes in the farming & agriculture across
Britain paved the way for industrial revolution. The changes that took place
in agriculture were brought about by demands for make food and support
growing population. For the first time agriculture become a business, forms
begun producing surplus amount of food with the goal of profit. There were
three major changes that revolutionized agriculture & set up path for
industrialization.
 The enclosures :- many British acts transferred areas of common land that
had previously been worked by small groups into the land of private lands
hers. These were joined together and enclosed to form large forms. ‘waste-
land’ was also enclosed. This process compelled landless to more into cities
& become the part of Industrial working class.
 Crop rotation :- new commercial approach to farming led to improved
management of the crops. In 1730 a land owner, Charled Townshed
introduced – field crop rotation in which no field was left follow & every
season crop was rotated.
 Improved machinery – by the early mid 1800s, new and methods farming
machinery was in use. Mechanical Drills, threshing machine etc. was used. It
increased efficiency & production. Robert Bakewell developed selective-
breeding of livestock from late 1700s onwards.
 DEVELOPMENT IN TEXTILE AND IRON

Some of the most important developments and innovations of the

Industrial revolution took place in the production of cotton, wool, coal and
iron. The production become limited to one site on a large scale suing
machinery and workers known as Factory System. Before the factory
system, manufacturing took place in small workshops it in cottages. In
contrast, the factory system brought together large number of workers in a
single site. The first factories were of cotton mills. Many inventions paved
the way for mass production.
 The flying shuttle :- it was invented by John Kay in 1733 introduced a more
efficient way of weaving on hard looms. It only required one weaver to
shoot the each from side of the width of loom to the other.
 The spinning Jenny :- it was invented by James Hargreaves in 1765, helped
increase the supply of yarn. It could spin eight thread at once.
 The water frame :- it was invented by Richard Arkuright in 1768, was a
spinning frame improved on Hargreaves spinning Jenny that could be
powered by waterwheel and produce yarn of only type.
 EXPANSION OF FACTORIES

Progress and developments from the 1850s, brought about advances in

engineering and machine tools machinery both shortened the time required
to make a product for its production. Workers were needed to took after the
machines. Instead, production became focused on producing large volumes
of machine made goods at for lower prices- a system known as mass
production. Cotton became Britain’s chief export, replacing wool. British
cotton goods accounted for 5% of national income. Richard Arkuright in
1768, had predicted that production would become centralized, with all
workers in the process being housed in one location. Many production
centers turned into factory towns with housing for the workers located close
to the mill.
There were some obvious benefits. The overall standard of living was
improved, and salaries increase form E25 in 1750 to E44 in 1860. However,
new production methods also created problems, leaving many skilled cottage
workers jobless and encouraging a factory system that only valued large
scale production at low cost to ensure the machine produced certain quantity
of goods. Untie parliamentary reform began to regulate these working
conditions, workers had to endure long talks and mindless repetitive tasks.
Portrayals of the period often show the workers as if they themselves were
machines.
THE SPREAD OF INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

The industrial revolution marked a majors turning point in human

history. Around 1850, a whole series of new developments in technology led
to even greater economic progress. Many historians describe period of 1850-
1914 as the second industrial revolution. The discovery of electricity offered
yet another source of power for industry and further changes in lifestyle. It
also led to new forms of communications, such as telegraph and the
telephone. Recognizing the potential for earning money from inventions and
markets, investors gave strong financial support to the new technologies.
Although Britain attempted to restrict industrial knowledge beyond its
borders, it was not successful. Ideas machine and designs were copied soon
abroad. Manufacturing spread across Europe and then into other pads of the
world.
Europe – one of the first countries to be affected by this was
Belgium. Belgium was similar to Britain in many ways like in strong textile
trade, resources of coal, potential investors etc. France had a primarily
agricultural economy until much later in the 1800s. in coastal areas such as
Normandy, however, the textile industries modernized in reaction to Britain
& Belgium. Germany had large opposite of coal and iron core and these
were exploited using new technology.
USA : after American war, of independence, American industry began to
grow rapidly especially in the north east of USA. By 1900, the USA had a
larger percentage of world manufacturing than Britain. The USA was rich in
natural resources and as settlements expired into the western regions of he
country, more and more raw materials and inventions available to
manufactures.
Japan :- By 1968, Japan had been effectively cut off from Western
influence for 260 years after shogun expelled all Christian missionaries from
the country and closed the borders to all foreign. The arrival of American
worships in the 1850s led toe Meiji Restoration- a period in Japanese history
when the emperor was returned to power as figurehead of new, modern
government and trade with west increased dramatically. Overtime, Japan
became the first country in Asia to become industrialized as it strictly
adopted western ideas & inventions. Japanese goods became highly sought
after overseas, particularly tea, silk, cotton fabrics and buttons.
Australia :- The British decision to establish a penal colony in Australia in
1788 was largely an attempt to solve some of the problems faced by Britain
that were a of industrial revolution. By 1813, a steam mill was operating in
Sydney major roads had been constructed to transport goods. Railways were
use in Australia by the 1850s as well as steamship. Despite these advances,
Australia’s industrial development was in many ways hectic & unplanned,
this became apparent after federation 1901.
 AFFECTS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION

Between the 1750s, and 1911 1914, Britain the USA and most
countries in Europe transformed into industrial societies in positive and way.
One of the most short term impact of industrial revolution was dramatic
increase in the world population. In 1750, population of Britain was 55
million, by 1900 this was around 32.5 million. In 1801, only 17% of
population of Europe lived in the cities. By 1891 it had grown to 54%. In
Britain the growth cities were Leeds Manchester, Birmingham, London,
after terrible initial problems with disease caused by poor and non- existent
sanitation, city reform began with the introduction of urban planning.
Overtime, condition in the urban slums of factory towns and cities
improved. Sport was encouraged in leisure time in order to keep workers
healthy. The cost of goods were reduced, there were more wider choice and
increased quality of goods, there were new inventions which eased out
communications like telegraph and telephone.
 Long term population growth – in 1801, world population was and global
inequality approximately 1 billion by 2027 it was estimated to 8 billion
advantages like higher standards of living, education better food and medical
treatment only benefited industrialized world. Other areas of the world such
as the colonies of major European powers were left behind or exploited for
their resources this resulted in global inequality.
 One the most significations long – term impacts of the industrial
revolution related to the environment. Coal burnt in the production of steam
power produced heavy layers of smog that hunt over unites.
 Air pollution: The British were awake of the dirt that hung over their
industrial towns, but they wouldn’t force the long term effects into the 2 nd
century. They didn’t realize fossil fuels such a coal and oil could run out of
have a global environment impact. The industrial revolution left humanity
dependent carbon fuels (such as petrol & gas). The developing world and its
growing economics, India & China, have copied the example of
industrialized nations by becoming large producers of pollutions.
 Water pollution and sewage difficulties – The Industrial revolution led to
the building of many factories and industrial building along the banks. The
river was toxic to fish but was still used to provide drinking water to people.
The run –off from some chemicals optic entered the water supply.
 Deforestation – During the Industrial revolution, forests were cleared to an
even greater extent, at first for fuel and building materials, then to make
space for new farmland a rising population required more buildings,
railways required miles of wooden sleepers. Land was also cleared to build
the new factories and mills and to create the housing areas around them
where the workers could live. In many uses, the forests last contained old –
growth tress.
 WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS

While it cannot be denied that the industrial revolutions improved

lifting standards o most people across Britain, it can at a high cost. The was
industrialists and the new middle class. However the working class gave up
to long working hours, unsanitary conditions etc.
Dark Sanatic Mills –
The working in manufacturing in 1800 was estimated at 40% by 1871,
this had risen to 60%. However life was very different for those who had
struggled to survive on loss wages and were fored to work in harsh
conditions. Factory and mine others often cut corners with softly conditions
in the pursuit of higher profits. This encluded enforcing long working hours
and using cheaper labour in the form of women and children.
Child labour –
Children were seen as ideal employers. They were small enough to fit
between the machinery, they were cheap to employ and their families were
grateful of the extra income. At the time, there was no red corner about their
education. Their jobs were physically demanding and dangerous. In many
cases children were orphans. Children’s pay was well below that of adults
wages for children were sometimes paid in the form of vouchers. Overtime,
social reforms raised the minimum wage, shortened the working hours,
increased wages & introduced some form of education.
 CONCLUSION

The Industrial revolution was a time of great imagination and process

and progress. The inventions that allowed new products to be manufactured
created a demand that caused a vicious cycle that propelled some people to
prosperity, while at the sometime held people down in poverty. It was
almost newer the intent of the investors, scientists and other brilliant minds
to clause such a chasm between the working class and the industrial machine
but it was, nonetheless created.
The role of government today in regulating industry is geared more
towards protecting the worker. Back in the early days of the industries
revolution the opposite was the noun. Life for people who worked in
factories and mills often had to ban together to improve their wages and
working conditions and this often resulted in violent confrontations. Some of
the issues still exist today. Some may argue, the industrial revolution is still
happening is it?