CH 17 Industrial Revolution

Fast rate of technological innovation, lead to increase in output of goods/services.

• new energy sources (ex:steam engines)
• cultural inovation

before 1750/1800 most Euro countries were equal in technological innovations 

• biggest innovation steam engine
• transition to other types of production
• agriculture transformed

Britain ------->Western Europe-------->United States-------->Russia-------->Japan

many argue why industrialization appeared in Great Britain 1st, and why in the late19th centuryother parts of the world flourished in technological and scientific advancements 

fast spread of industrial techniques 

Industrial Revolution seen as a rather quick and as an unexpected eruption (1750–1850)
European internal development favored innovation, rulers had an unusual alliance with merchant classes and other societies developed market-based economies by the eighteenth century 

Europe, center of the most varied exchange network
involved with different peoples thats encouraged change and innovation
Americas gave silver, raw materials, and foods
Britain most commercialized European country

had industrial workers with few options 

British aristocrats were interested in commerce
British commerce was worldwide
British political life encouraged commercialization and economic innovation
policy of religious toleration (est. 1688) welcomed people with tech skills no matter of what
faith
British government imposed tariffs to protect businessmen
easy way to make companies/forbid unions
unified internal market, thanks to road and canal system
patent laws protected inventors’ interests
checks on royal authority gave more room for private enterprise
emphasis of the Scientific Revolution was different in Great Britain

• on the continent: logic, deduction, mathematical reasoning
• in Britain: observation and experiment, measurement, mechanical devices, practical applications  
• in Britain, artisan/craftsman inventors were in close contact with scientists and entrepreneurs
• the British Royal Society took the role of promoting “useful knowledge”

Britain had plenty of coal and iron ore, often conveniently located 8. Britain was not devastated by the Napoleonic wars
social change was possible without revolution
There was a massive increase in output as industrialization took hold in Britain.
rapid development of railroad systems
the middle classes had biggest gains of industrialization
upper middle class: became wealthy and bought into aristocratic life 

middle class: large numbers of smaller businessmen and professionals

•  politically liberal
• stood for thrift, hard work, rigid morals, and cleanliness

nineteenth century------>about 70% of Brits were workers 

laboring classes suffered most/benefited least from industrialization 

rapid urbanization

• a majority of Britain’s population was urban
• London was the largest city in the world (6 million) 
•  horrible urban conditions
• overcrowding
• poor sanitation and water supplies 
• epidemics
• few public services/open spaces
•  little contact between the rich and the poor

industrial factories offered a very different work environment

• long hours, low wages, and child labor were typical for the poor
• direct supervision/discipline
• industrial work was insecure
• many girls and young women worked

Workers wrecked machinery and burned mills
some joined political movements, aimed to enfranchise working-class men
trade unions legalized (1824)

• growing numbers of factory workers joined them 
• fought for better wages and working conditions 
• at first, upper classes feared them socialist ideas spread gradually