Revolutions

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution refers to a period of automation/mechanization that gave rise to
sustained economic growth in Europe from the 1700s.

Causes of the Industrial Revolution

Breakdown of Feudalism - The trans-Atlantic trade gave rise to a growing class of

professionals and urban artisans that were not tied to land and were thus independent of
feudal lords. This rich class of entrepreneurs decided to invest their money in the
production of goods and services in mass for the European market.
Technological progress - Inventions, innovations, and technological borrowing made the
production of goods easier. They borrowed gunpowder from China. They made
breakthroughs with the printing press, the mechanical clock, the magnetic campus, the
wind and water mills, the water wheels, cannons and artillery, and shipbuilding.
Technological and military superiority - Permitted W. Europe to expand and conquer
overseas territories. These colonies created markets for manufactured goods and led to
increased production; they also provided sources of cheap raw materials (sugar, cotton,
tobacco) and precious metals like gold and silver, as well as cheap or slave labor.
Rise of modern state – As a result of the Treaty of Westphalia, European states became
politically stable and were able to sustain economic development. In addition,
governments came up with a system of protectionism to protect the local industries from
foreign competition.
Protestantism - Max Weber claimed that protestant work ethic encouraged private
enterprise, hard work, honesty and frugality. Commerce was morally sanctioned. Profit
making and material success were seen as signs of divine blessing.

The industrial revolution began in England and spread to the rest of Europe and North
America during the early 1800s.

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Consequences of the Industrial Revolution

Technological inventions: Numerous inventions were made within the textile, smelting
and transport industries. Spinning machines replaced the spinning wheel, weaving
machines replaced handlooms; the steam engine was developed as a cheaper and more
efficient source of power for factories. The transport system was improved to facilitate
the transportation of finished products over long distances. This included the road
networks, the waterways whereby; streams were expanded to allow the passage of
steamboats. There were also steam-powered ships. The railroad network was developed
with steam-powered locomotives.

Growth of Commercial Industry: The banking and insurance industries grew to handle
the increased flow of money. Banks provided loans for entrepreneurs. Insurance
companies protected transit goods from factories as well as transportation vessels such as
ships and locomotives.

The development of the education sector: As a result of the industrial revolution, many
sectors such as the transport industry, the banking industry, and the factories required
specialized labor. Therefore, universities increased all over Europe. They provided
training in engineering and clerical skills. Libraries also came up.

Water and air pollution: Caused by the industries, which used coal, and later on coke in
the manufacture of goods.

Demographic change: Prior to the revolution, most of the population in Europe was
rural. During the revolution, a huge percentage of the rural population moved to the cities
as workers. As conditions improved for the workers in Europe – they had trade unions,
which advocated for better terms of service, there was a population boom. In many parts
of Europe such as Britain, the population doubled.

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