History of Industrialization: Taylorism to Global Expansion

Taylorism and Fordism in Industrial Production

The production system in factories was known as Taylorism (a work system developed by Taylor consisting of measuring the time used by workers in carrying out their work and eliminating unnecessary steps from the process, reducing them to the essential. In this way, it is possible to reduce the time used to produce and, therefore, a greater quantity is produced in less time, increasing the profit of the businessman).

Another major system was Fordism (a work system developed by Ford and implemented in factories consisting of reducing the industrial production process to very simple and distinct tasks, where each worker makes a part of the process).

Key Thinkers of the Industrial Era

• Robert Owen: He believed the quality of the product depends on the quality of the time taken to produce it. He defended the reduction of working hours.
• Saint-Simon: He argued that human progress is achieved by economic development. Industry must be run by intellectual elites who will create well-being for all citizens.
• Proudhon: Famous for stating "private property is theft," he proposed a social organization based on communes.

The Agricultural Revolution and Enclosure Acts

The crop cultivation system based on triennial rotation was substituted by the Norfolk four-course system, consisting of constant crop rotation, including fodder crops for livestock. Thus, the amount of livestock increased and provided more manure as fertilizer, as well as meat and milk, meaning the population was better fed.

Other key advancements included the use of seed drills and horse-drawn harvesters, the start of selective seeding, and the selective breeding of livestock.

The Enclosure Acts turned common land into private property, which was obligatory to fence or enclose. As a result, many poor peasants who did not have the money to build fences had to sell their land to aristocrats, the bourgeoisie, and rich peasants, and become wage workers or migrate to cities to look for industrial jobs.

Industrialization Outside Europe

United States (USA)

The USA became a great industrial power due to abundant natural resources, specialized production, and a large domestic market.

Japan

The Meiji Revolution transformed Japan into an industrial power thanks to an educational plan. The state helped industrialization, and its main industries were textile and heavy industry.

Russia

Russian industrialization was slow and late. The factors that made industrialization possible were its rich natural resources and the large workforce.