Britain's Industrial Revolution: Factors, Economy, and Society

Political and Institutional Context in Britain

Several factors favored the start of the Industrial Revolution, particularly the political and institutional context in the United Kingdom. Britain had a parliamentary monarchy where the Parliament was dominated by an economically active middle class that legislated in favor of business. Key advantages included:

• It was the world's leading maritime and commercial power.
• It controlled trade with its North American colonies and engaged in commercial activity in Spanish and Portuguese colonies, opening up new markets.
• In the 17th century, free trade was favored, moving away from commercial and industrial monopolies.
• The liberalization of agriculture provided a huge boost to the industry by allowing the import of raw materials from other countries.

The Transportation Revolution

The revolution in transportation had several significant impacts:

• It benefited the metallurgical industry, whose production greatly increased due to the manufacturing of trains and tracks.
• It spurred the development of civil engineering for designing railway layouts.
• It facilitated the transport of heavy materials.
• It shortened travel times.
• Transportation became cheaper.
• It promoted the formation of large-capital companies.
• It encouraged many people, who previously had not moved from where they lived, to begin traveling.

Economic Foundations of Liberalism

The economic theories of liberalism provided ideological support for the new industrial system:

• It supported private enterprise over state control.
• It defended the idea that wealth comes from labor.
• A more pessimistic branch of liberalism emerged, concerned with the balance between population and resources. To avoid catastrophe, it proposed voluntarily reducing the birth rate.
• David Ricardo advocated for free trade and the international division of labor.
• John Stuart Mill defended individual initiative, the accumulation of capital, and a competitive free market.

Social Classes During the Industrial Revolution

The Upper Classes

The nobility retained its prestige and influence. However, the bourgeoisie became the dominant social group, controlling political and economic power. This class was composed of great merchants, industrialists, and landowners. The most important industrial employers had very diverse social origins.

The Middle Classes

This group saw remarkable growth and included rural landowners, small and medium-sized traders, and artisans. Skilled workers in the industry, who required specialized training, were also part of this class. The Industrial Revolution was accompanied by a true revolution in the service sector, and the formation of liberal states led to a rise in the number of officials.

The Lower Classes

This group included the poor, the landless, and the marginalized of society. A new social group, the proletariat, emerged, formed by workers in modern industries. The number of workers increased due to the arrival of peasants who had been left unemployed by land enclosures, as well as a high birth rate. Many men, women, and children went to work in factories under an inhumane disciplinary system. Labor and wage conditions were harsh, and contracts often ignored all worker rights.