Chapter+20

Chapter 20 //The Industrial Revolution and Its Impact on European Society// Raymond Smeriglio

Big Ideas:

1. Origins: In understanding the I**ndustrial Revolution** in Europe, one first must identify with where the idea of **Industrialism** first to revolutionary steps. Great Britain was on the forefront of Industrial Revolution and set the stage for many other European nations to imitate such success and **progress**. Following the **Agricultural Revolution** in Great Britain conditions were created that allowed for the Industrial Revolution such as; the presentation of new farming technology, more food could be made faster with less laborers, lessening the need for certain jobs; such advances in technology and a smaller workforce in agriculture led to the prices of agricultural goods (food) to drop, which allowed for more money in a household's budget to be spent towards manufactured goods; because of this rise in income spent towards manufactured goods, a rise in demand for these goods occurred, putting more pressure on companies and factories to produce these goods, which led to a need for a stronger, larger factory workforce; at the same time a rise in population occurred which filled these new jobs that had been opened due to the rise in demand; all this occurred while the workers displaced from the loss of agricultural jobs, migrate to the city to find work.

2. In addition to the conditions that were in place during this time period was the contributions from the British government, the readiness of an innovative credit system, and the plethora of Entrepreneurs that Britain had to choose from. First off, Great Britain had a great amount of capital for investment into new Industrial machines and the factories that housed them. Along with great amounts of capital wealth came the very reliable credit structure in place. It became easy for Entrepreneurs to take out a loan to start a new factory, expand his/her factory, or hire more workers in preparation to expand. These same entrepreneurs took part in brutal competitive business tactics that ruined some and helped others strike big. This economic behavior no doubt the revolutions of the 17th century created both the economic and political structure where power "rested in the hands of a progressive group of people who favored innovation in economic matters."

3. In understanding the development in Europe, how then does it spread all over Europe? How do the intangible thoughts and ideas of the factory process make it to the tangible phase of production? In 1851 a novel idea of a grand presentation of the innovation of Great Britain was materialized in the Great Exhibition. Housed in the Crystal Palace, scholars, factory owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators from all over the world flocked to the Crystal Palace to get a peek at what exactly this new Industrial Revolution gave way to. In six months, six million people visited the palace's 100,000 exhibits. This collection of innovation informed other European Countries to do the same as Great Britain.

4. The impacts of the Industrial Revolution were not solely Economic. Many other social factors came into play. As discussed in number 1, there was a rise in the production of agricultural goods, but eventually the rise in population surpassed the newly found production frontier. Causing outbreaks of hunger to occur not only in Great Britain, but in newly birthed Industrial countries as well. Along with hunger issues came the problem with working conditions; because many of the industrial countries adopted Laissez-Faire policies the working conditions were left completely up to the managers and owners of the factories. How would you choose then, waste money on conditions for your workers or save money by keeping maintenance costs low and production levels high? The managers and bosses did always choose the latter. Finally, the animosity of the Industrial Revolution was clear and present in the high occurrence of child labor. At an age as early as 5 one could find sweeping a chimney or working with small textile machines. Usually the bosses and managers had no sympathy for the labor, leaving many in danger and eventually death.

Essential Questions:

1. What conditions made Great Britain the "test dummy" for the Industrial Revolution?

2. What were philosophers such as the Romantics saying about the Industrial Revolution in Europe? The Victorians?

3. In what way did the Laissez-Faire policy allow for low standards of working conditions? Child labor?

4. How did the Industrial Revolution create a new class, the middle class? Where did they find themselves situated in society? What kinds of activities/things could they afford to do? What seperates them from the upper/lower classes?

Primary Sources:

Both Taken from - www.historyteacher.net

Source 1 (Written): The Chimney SweeperBy William Blake When my mother died I was very young, And my father sold me while yet my tongue Could scarcely cry 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! So your chimneys I sweep, and in soot I sleep.

There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head, That curled like a lamb's back, was shaved: so I said, "Hush, Tom! never mind it, for when your head's bare, You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair."

And so he was quiet; and that very night,

As Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight, - That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, and Jack, Were all of them locked up in coffins of black.

And by came an angel who had a bright key, And he opened the coffins and set them all free; Then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run, And wash in a river, and shine in the sun.

Then naked and white, all their bags left behind, They rise upon clouds and sport in the wind; And the angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy,

He'd have God for his father, and never want joy.

And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark, And got with our bags and our brushes to work. Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm; So if all do their duty they need not fear harm.

Analysis: This poem was written by William Blake (a romantic poet). He very often was found writing such pieces to inform and uncover the invisible filth he called British working conditions. In this poem he makes visible the horrid tactics and ideals of the Chimney Sweeping industries. He shows how they brainwash their workers into thinking that their time now does not matter, doing a good day's work is the only way to ensure a spot in heaven.

Source 2 (Visual)



In looking at the above depiction of the Crystal Palace, the grandeur combined with the amount of exhibition is immense. This is the very reason why the Industrial Revolution was perceived to be so glorious by so many who did not know of the social impacts it had. Entrepreneurs, leaders from nations, and ambassadors from all over the political and economic world came to view the masterpieces and innovation found in the Crystal Palace. Truly a spark plug for the spread of the Industrial Revolution in Europe.

Map:



This map shows the enhancement of the Industrial Revolution. It presents new canals, railroads, and rivers used to ship manufactured goods and natural resources to various points and loading sectors.

Key Terms: Industrial Revolution Great Exhibition of 1851 Romanticism Industrialization The Great Hunger Industrial Middle Class Urban Aristocrats Standar of Living The Factory Act of 1833 Coal Mines Act





[]