18th Century Transformations: Industry, Society, and Economy

Toward the Contemporary World

At the end of the 18th century, certain movements in the economy overrode attempts at protectionism, which was based in most countries of old Europe. Industry was widely dispersed, operating in workshops, and the small textile industry was concentrated. After 1760, this process became known as the Industrial Revolution. This reform began in England, where the bourgeoisie controlled power, helping to transform agriculture. The Industrial Revolution marked the transition from a traditional agrarian economy to one marked by industry and machine production.

Demographic Revolution: Population Increases

Causes:

• Drop in mortality.
• Eradication of diseases (Black Death).
• Progress of personal and urban hygiene.
• Collection of garbage in cities.
• Appearance of drugs.

Consequences:

• Increased number of consumers.
• Increased labor performed.
• Migratory movements within each country and from continent to continent to the United States; this caused the growth of cities.

The Industrial Revolution

It is a process of change and development in which the steam engine was discovered, along with theoretical discoveries and financial developments. It produced a set of transformations in the economy, theory, and society. These changes occurred slowly and gradually, affecting economic sectors and leading to a new working class, the proletariat, and the formation of capitalism.

• Protectionism: Economic principles that protect a country's products through tariffs.
• Liberalism: Economic principle that raises the free circulation of products.
• Proletariat: Appearance of a new working class.
• Capitalism: Appearance of a new economic model.

Anarchism

An ideological movement that seeks to eliminate the state and its institutions to restore freedom to man.

Characteristics of Marxism

• Class struggle.
• National historical materialism of goods production.
• Dictatorship of the Proletariat (DOP).

Agricultural Revolution: Changes in the Field

Most of the workers engaged in agriculture with low productivity, using fallow and triennial or biennial crop rotation. In 17th-century England, the land was cultivated in a communal system called openfield, being devoted to planting cereals in small and narrow plots where cattle grazed. The triennial rotation and fallow were replaced by the Norfolk system, based on the alternation of four crops.

Agrarian Revolution

Causes:

• New tools for farming.
• Increased cultivated area.
• Payment of land.
• Introduction of new crops.
• Laws of enclosure.

Implications:

• Increased production.
• Decreased number of small farmers.
• Population growth.
• Property will be concentrated in the hands of the bourgeoisie.

The Revolution of Transport

The transformations that were taking place in the industry needed means of communication for the transfer of materials from the site of production to cities and ports. This led to the development of roads, improvement of roads, waterways, etc. Robert Stephenson developed the locomotive in 1814, which emerged as a transport for transporting goods and then passengers. The first trip was up the Hudson River in 1837. Ericson introduced a propeller to replace the paddle wheels. The modernization of transport led to development in the steel industry, textile industry, mining, and especially in iron and steel.

Labor Movement

A set of actions carried out by workers to achieve their interests and fight for their rights (to improve wages, working time regulation, etc.). Labor movements such as mutual aid societies and trade union movements like the Trade Unions appeared to protect their interests.

Utopian Socialism

A French movement that emerged during the first phase of the Industrial Revolution. It proposed a progressive conception of man's possibilities to carry out an organization of society.