Industrial Revolution: National Models and Social Change

The English Model of Industrial Development

The English Model: Britain's pioneering status established it as a world power until 1914. The English model can be summarized under three main headings:

• Resources: Human resources and an increased population drove demand and provided manpower for the industry.
• Energy and Raw Materials: Abundant wool, iron ore, and coal provided a significant advantage over poorly endowed countries.
• Food: Bumper harvests and surplus produce occurred between 1740 and 1780.

Key Industrial Sectors

• Textiles and Steel: These became the classical sectors of national development.
• Thermal Innovations: Innovations were constant; the Watt steam engine became one of the most important inventions in history.

The Spread of the Industrial Revolution

Other nations of European civilization tested how machines based on technological innovation and mass production could transform their economies.

France

France experienced slow industrialization and had to overcome obstacles such as demographic weakness. In agriculture, changes took place just before the revolution, but there were insufficient technical skills. A major problem was the lack of coal and the inability to use phosphorous iron from Lorraine. Despite this, France developed a textile industry and stimulated the construction of a railway network.

Germany

Political unification did not occur until 1871, which meant there were significant differences between regions. Germany benefited from population expansion and an abundance of iron and coal. The Ruhr mines and the steel industry served as highlight vertebral sectors for the productive area. The Zollverein (customs union) was very important in a territory without political unity, as was the construction of its railway network.

United States

The U.S. faced three major obstacles: the economic dominance of former colonial powers, labor shortages, and a lack of roads. The decisive impetus came from immigration, enabling industrialization without a rural exodus. This is a unique case of an industrial revolution with a balanced distribution of manpower. Being a huge territory, industrialization began in the East and reached the West very late. The railroad played a decisive role.

The Emergence of Class Society

With industrialization came new social groups, including entrepreneurs and bankers, acting as innovative elements. This resulted in a more complex and dynamic society. The industrial society comprised open groups determined by fortune. The equality of men was only theoretical, as there were great differences in wealth and culture among the classes.

With industrialization, there was a growing gap between capital and labor. Wages, despite being low, were not fixed. Workers faced excessive hours, living conditions were terrible, and dirt prevailed everywhere.