Industrial Revolution: Economic Transformation & Social Change

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was the process through which technological advances led to dramatic economic changes. Agriculture became less important than industry, and industrial capitalism emerged. The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in about 1750.

Causes of the Industrial Revolution

This was a long, slow process spanning nearly a century.

Population Growth

During the 18th century, living conditions improved across Europe.

The Agricultural Revolution

In the 18th century, European agricultural production increased, and crops became more varied:

• Extensive agricultural holdings
• Mechanization
• Fertilizers
• Crop rotation

Increased Trade

Foreign trade increased because the UK dominated trade routes in the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

Technological Advances

Key innovations included the Steam Engine (invented by James Watt), which became a primary source of energy.

Consequences of the Industrial Revolution

The revolution was characterized by continued population growth, significant agricultural improvements, increased trade, and widespread mechanization.

Transport Revolution

Improvements were made to waterways and roads. The invention of the steam engine and its use in land and sea transport, along with the steam locomotive, the steamship, and the opening of the first public railway, made it possible to move large quantities of products more quickly.

Industrialization in the Rest of Europe and the United States

Conditions for Industrialization

• Abundant reserves of coal and iron
• Population growth
• Capital for investment

In the United States

In the 1840s, the United States began its process of industrialization.

The Class-Based Society

It was a society in which people's class was determined by their wealth. Although, in theory, everyone was equal before the law, there was an unequal division into upper, middle, and working classes.

Characteristics of Social Classes

• Upper Class: Wealthy bourgeoisie and nobility.
• Middle Class: Civil servants, small-scale merchants, craftsmen, and farmers who owned small agricultural holdings.
• Working Class: Proletarians (industrial workers who worked in factories, did not own property, and had low salaries) and agricultural laborers.