Industrial Revolution: England vs. France - A Comparative Analysis

England's Industrial Revolution

The Rise of Capitalism

England's industrial and manufacturing revolution facilitated the consolidation of capitalism, creating two primary classes: the bourgeoisie (owners of capital) and the proletariat (workers who sold their labor for wages). Capitalism's origins trace back to the late Middle Ages (14th and 15th centuries) with increased trade and private property. However, its consolidation occurred in the 19th century as European powers sought new markets, eliminating local regulations and protective legislation. This included granting credits and trade advantages, often through diplomacy or war.

The Impact of Railways

The railway boom ignited the English economy. Unlike the textile industry, which required modest investments, railways demanded substantial capital but promised significant profits and expanded global demand. This attracted the upper and middle classes, leading to the creation of a legal framework for stock trading and administrative organization. Railways benefited the British economy by creating jobs and stimulating industries like iron, coal, wood, and leather. England became a major exporter of engines, machinery, rails, coal, and technology, solidifying its hegemonic role in the global economy by the end of the 19th century.

France's Industrial Revolution

A Dualistic Model

France's economic growth began in 1815. Its industrial model, known as dualism, combined factory manufacturing with domestic and artisanal work. Initially hampered by poor communication and transportation, France connected its industrial and mining areas in the north and east with Paris via canals and railways by the 1820s. Rail, initially linking coal mines and canals, received state support in the 1840s under Napoleon III. This aimed to unify the domestic market and reduce transportation costs. Engineering predominated in French industry (later enhanced by electric turbines), while steam power was limited by the high cost of coal, necessitating imports from Belgium and Great Britain.

Factors Influencing French Industrialization

Several factors are often cited for France's slower industrialization:

• Deficit of resources like coal and iron
• Underdeveloped banking system
• Social structure: Unlike England, where rural migration to cities provided industrial labor, France's revolution led to land division among farmers, discouraging internal migration and a cheap labor supply.
• Limited employer innovation
• Instability from the French Revolution (1789) to Napoleon's fall (1815), contrasting with Britain's peace.

However, some historians argue that this slower industrialization had a lower social cost, with French workers earning higher wages. Dualism also provided two income sources (factory and workshop). Furthermore, measures like decentralized production, combining modern facilities with workshops and small businesses, proved successful in the late 20th century.