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    NOTES ON The Industrial Revolution

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    Meriem Tigriene
    The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century and transformed the country from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Key factors that allowed Britain to be the first industrial nation included accumulated capital from institutions like the Bank of England, a capitalist spirit that drove production and consumption, and revenue from British colonies. The changes brought by industrialization included the rise of an entrepreneurial middle class, the emergence of large urban manufacturing centers, and long work hours and poor conditions for industrial workers. This transformation led to the birth of labor unions and political compromises to address unrest.

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    NOTES ON The Industrial Revolution

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    Meriem Tigriene
    33 views3 pages
    The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century and transformed the country from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Key factors that allowed Britain to be the first industrial nation included accumulated capital from institutions like the Bank of England, a capitalist spirit that drove production and consumption, and revenue from British colonies. The changes brought by industrialization included the rise of an entrepreneurial middle class, the emergence of large urban manufacturing centers, and long work hours and poor conditions for industrial workers. This transformation led to the birth of labor unions and political compromises to address unrest.

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    The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century and transformed the country from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Key factors that allowed Britain to be the first industrial nation included accumulated capital from institutions like the Bank of England, a capitalist spirit that drove production and consumption, and revenue from British colonies. The changes brought by industrialization included the rise of an entrepreneurial middle class, the emergence of large urban manufacturing centers, and long work hours and poor conditions for industrial workers. This transformation led to the birth of labor unions and political compromises to address unrest.

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    33 views3 pages

    NOTES ON The Industrial Revolution

    Uploaded by

    Meriem Tigriene
    The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century and transformed the country from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Key factors that allowed Britain to be the first industrial nation included accumulated capital from institutions like the Bank of England, a capitalist spirit that drove production and consumption, and revenue from British colonies. The changes brought by industrialization included the rise of an entrepreneurial middle class, the emergence of large urban manufacturing centers, and long work hours and poor conditions for industrial workers. This transformation led to the birth of labor unions and political compromises to address unrest.

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    NOTES ON THE IDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

    1. Contextualizing the Industrial Revolution


    The greatest changes that took place in Europe in the 18 th and 19th centuries were not
    political, but rather economic and social. Caused by the most dramatic revolution that
    Europe had experienced - the Industrial Revolution – the consequences were greater than
    one could possibly imagine. The change from an agricultural or trading society to one based
    upon the production of goods to be sold was one of the transformative events of European
    history. The coordination of capital, raw material, labor, and markets required great effort
    and managerial skill; but the rewards were enormous and benefited both the capitalists
    who engineered this system and the nations in which they worked.
    Capitalism had flourished first in Italy, then in the Low Countries, and expanded
    throughout Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. The capitalist system was founded
    upon the twin pillars of private property and the profit motive. These proved sufficiently
    powerful to withstand the centralization and restrictions on trade and commerce imposed
    by mercantilism. Capitalism also proved sufficiently flexible and dynamic to meet market
    demands resulting from the rise of consumer consumption in the late 17th century, to
    uncover new markets, and to create new demand so as to increase profits.
    1. Britain: The First Industrial Nation
    Economic factors
    A - The Industrial Revolution occurred first in Britain, and the reasons for this are
    complex but exemplary. Britain had the necessary concentration of capital, having
    established in 1694 the Bank of England which ensured ready credit and a stable
    currency.
    B – A mindset we could label ‘capitalist spirit’ had swept British society in which the
    goal was to produce and have more. This drove individuals to acquire more products and
    chase new commodities they could not afford before.
    C – Britain had as an imperial power access to a number of territories acquired overseas.
    The revenue generated from British colonies would help fund the Industrial Revolution.
    Political factors
    A – Britain, unlike most European nations in late 18th and 19 centuries, had known a
    period of relative peacefulness. Though there were some frictions here and there, the
    British political system had lived through. In turn, this stability and prosperity would give
    the perfect ground to various kinds of experimentations. (The Glorious Revolution is a
    great landmark.)
    B – Political mindedness: The British ruling class was willing enough to support new
    initiatives.
    C – Britain’s imperial might was greatly beneficial.
    Social factors
    A- Social mobility: In England, you could be a lot of things as an individual. You did
    were not restricted to a definite social class like Medieval Feudalism had
    stipulated.
    B- The Weber-Tawney thesis: Protestantism as a crucial factor for the rise of
    capitalism and industrialization.
    C- Free Press: Knowledge sharing was made possible thanks to the political open
    mindedness discussed earlier.

    2. The Immediate Consequences of the Industrial Revolution:


    The Transformation of Traditional Society
    a- An entrepreneurial middle class emerged, unrestrained by traditional values and
    practices and imbued with utilitarian ideals.
    b- A new group of bourgeois businessmen who stood outside the official society of
    traditional Europe. They were not civil servants, churchmen, or traditional
    merchants. Instead, they were self-made men, “new men” of modest origins who
    became increasingly conscious of themselves as a class rather than as a “middle
    rank.”
    c- Talent rather than birth, family, or higher education became the key to success.
    Talent was measured by one’s ability to make money.
    Work Labor
    a- Large urban manufacturing centers emerged.
    b- Industrial workers probably had higher living standards than did agricultural
    workers, although the latter were not subjected to foul air and the monotony of
    machine-work.
    c- Industrial workers toiled long hours for relatively low wages (even though industrial
    wages were probably higher than pay earned by agricultural workers)
    d- Factory workers had poor housing; the new industrial towns were grossly
    overcrowded.
    e- Exploitation of women and children was common. Prior to 1802, children as young
    as seven worked fifteen hours a day, six days a week in the English textile industry.
    These conditions later improved only very slowly.
    Political Consequences
    a- The Birth of Union Movements: The workers strike back.
    b- Political Compromises: The system learns to sacrifice in order not to break.
    3. Why Was Britain First, Other Factors to Consider:

    a- Craftsmanship: Britain had artisanal knowledge. (Both British and Continental


    tinkerers… etc.)
    b- Geographical factors: Raw materials and Britain’s location on the map.

    Suggested Reading:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zm7qtfr/articles/z6kg3j6
    Charles More, Understanding the Industrial Revolution

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