How Did The Industrial Revolution Affect European Society
The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th century resulted in the most profound turning point in the history of humanity. The revolutions affect is still felt in today’s society through where we live; what we eat; how we are educated; how long we live; and how many children we have. When one thinks about the Industrial Revolution, urbanization, an economic boom and wealth may come to mind. However; this was not the case for all humankind. This paper will discuss some of the social effects the revolution had on European society by taking a look at the advances and pitfalls within the context of European society, such as technological and agricultural. This will be followed by comparing and contrasting life before and after the economic
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boom, as well as social movements to address the challenges — capitalism — posed by the revolution, through a Marxist lens.
At its core, the Industrial Revolution was the societal shift from using human-powered tools to make products to using new sources of energy, such as coal, to power machines in factories. It was a shift from the home to the factory, from the country to the city, from human or animal power to engines powered by fossil fuels — coal and oil. The Industrial Revolution increased output and decreased production cost by transforming the manufacturing of goods from a craft to a more commercial affair; thus, leading to prosperity and an unprecedented supply of goods for the markets of the world. The impression of this is still seen today — 250 years later. For example, the Industrial Revolution allowed society to transition from hard physical labor to a more productive and organized method of manufacturing. This type of production was seen in factory work settings where instead of one or a few individuals preforming all of the steps necessary to create a product, factories employed individuals to perform one action for each person; a production line. This method was shown to be much faster, cheaper, and more efficient than its predecessors’ method. This system is used today in regard to automobile manufacturing, food processing and other sorts of factory work.
Before going further into the influence the revolution had on society, one needs to look at what life was like before the economic boom — pre-industrial society — this will be the baseline in contrast to the industrial era after 1750. The pace of change in preindustrial society was extremely slow. According to economic historian, Carlo Cipolla (1993), the average Roman from the 1st century A.D. would find much in common with the technology and daily life of English people in the 17th century (Cipolla 277). Daily life in pre-industrial times changed very little for Europeans. Generation after generation, rural families relied on tools that had changed little over the centuries, such as wooden plows dependent on larger animals to pull them.
Another clear trend in pre-industrial society was the lack of population growth from generation to generation. This was largely due to poverty, war, plague, and poor hygiene the younger populous took on most of this burden. In the 1600s, approximately 25 percent of newborn children died before their first birthday and another 25 percent died before their tenth (Cipallo, 1993). Therefore, the pre-industrial population did not increase substantially in Europe for hundreds of years. For example, Germany had an estimated population of 12 million in the year 1300. Over the course of 400 years, the population only increased to 15 million, a 20 percent increase over four centuries, according to Demographic Trends (2002).
Wealth in pre-industrial European society was not evenly distributed among the population, it was concentrated in the hands of the few, while poverty was common. In Florence, Italy, in 1427, 10 percent of the population—merchants, landowners, nobility— controlled 68 percent of wealth (Cipolla, 1993). This is not much different from the United States today where, in 2007, the top 10 percent of the population controlled 71 percent of the wealth (Business Insider, 2010). Most individuals in pre-industrial England lived with little or no savings. In England between the 15th and 18th centuries, 70 to 80 percent of household income went to buying food. And so, for the poor buying one piece of clothing was considered a luxury. Yet, society typically depended on peasants for food and taxes (Ashton, T.S, 1997). Although the clergy and nobles held majority of the wealth in Europe, they were not usually taxed, placing a further burden on peasants and craftsmen. This resulted in what Karl Marx (1848) called the “conflict theory”, between the poor (Proletarians) and the rich/middle class (Bourgeoisie).
Now, let us fast-forward to industrialization and consider a few global consequences. When the Industrial Revolution started in the 18th century, the great majority of people lived in the countryside. The growth of the cities coincided with the growth of the industry, resulting in the rise of stock markets, banking, rapid urbanization and the dismantling of the feudal system. The upside to urbanization was vast, it brought growth of other means of production apart from farming, thus creating more sources of income accessible to the collective. According to writer, Aastha Dogra (2016), due to the expansion of the city the common folk and working class had a better opportunity in seeking employment in the new working world. Accordingly, resulting in generation of more money and better livelihood.
Despite the expansion of urban centers leading to economic growth and job creation, it must be noted that urbanization also has negative aspects.
The rise in population of the cities creates many problems, such as, air and water pollution, increased crime rates, and poverty. Due to dense populations of people the spread of infectious diseases was rapid. Consequently, death rates in urban areas historically were higher than in rural areas. According to Nathan Keyfitz (1989), the only way urban areas maintained their existence until recently was by the continual in-migration of rural people. There is also the issue of class divide and gender inequality. Entrepreneurs, factory owners, and industrialists gained enormous wealth, while the working classes were confined to unsafe working environment, low-paying jobs, and unhealthy living conditions. Among those hard off were women and children as stated by Gender, Work, and wages in Industrial Revolution Britain author Joyce Burnette (2008). Men were given considerably higher wages than that of their female counterparts and children were seen as a source of low-cost labour. Men received the title of "bread-winners" and middle-class women were encouraged to stay at home and look after the children (Burnette, 2008). This resulted in the rise of age and gender discrimination in the urban
societies.
According to Marx (1848) as people came together in cities, they divided into groups demarcated by economic difference. The bourgeoisie and the proletariat, in turn inspiring new political views. Marx along with Freidrich Engels (1848) argued that the socioeconomic structure that emerged from the Industrial Revolution — capitalism — was repressive to the proletariat (poor). Stating that eventually the proletariat would revolt when exploitation became unbearable. This revelation can be seen in the development of labour unions. Although it began in England over two hundred years ago, the Industrial Revolution has had a global influence. Whether it be trade, manufacturing or jobs. Due to the revolution society is now a global community. The products one consumes has a multi-national origin, for example, Apple’s iPhone, was designed, built, and assembled on 3 different continents, using over 30 companies. The innovations during the Industrial Revolution accelerated the rise of an economic system known as capitalism. Business owners compete to make the best product that will attract the most buyers. It is believed that this system encourages innovation, high quality goods, and increases the wealth of countries. If that is the case, society has the Industrial Revolution to thank. In addition, the industrial revolution, whether one believes it improved society or not, it can be said that it reformed legislation. Thus, resulting in an increase in the basic social, economic, and political rights of the working class. It increased longevity of life, growth of the middle class and helped create a modern world view through proper use of science and technology. All of that and created the foundation of women’s and labour right that society has today.
boom, as well as social movements to address the challenges — capitalism — posed by the revolution, through a Marxist lens.
At its core, the Industrial Revolution was the societal shift from using human-powered tools to make products to using new sources of energy, such as coal, to power machines in factories. It was a shift from the home to the factory, from the country to the city, from human or animal power to engines powered by fossil fuels — coal and oil. The Industrial Revolution increased output and decreased production cost by transforming the manufacturing of goods from a craft to a more commercial affair; thus, leading to prosperity and an unprecedented supply of goods for the markets of the world. The impression of this is still seen today — 250 years later. For example, the Industrial Revolution allowed society to transition from hard physical labor to a more productive and organized method of manufacturing. This type of production was seen in factory work settings where instead of one or a few individuals preforming all of the steps necessary to create a product, factories employed individuals to perform one action for each person; a production line. This method was shown to be much faster, cheaper, and more efficient than its predecessors’ method. This system is used today in regard to automobile manufacturing, food processing and other sorts of factory work.
Before going further into the influence the revolution had on society, one needs to look at what life was like before the economic boom — pre-industrial society — this will be the baseline in contrast to the industrial era after 1750. The pace of change in preindustrial society was extremely slow. According to economic historian, Carlo Cipolla (1993), the average Roman from the 1st century A.D. would find much in common with the technology and daily life of English people in the 17th century (Cipolla 277). Daily life in pre-industrial times changed very little for Europeans. Generation after generation, rural families relied on tools that had changed little over the centuries, such as wooden plows dependent on larger animals to pull them.
Another clear trend in pre-industrial society was the lack of population growth from generation to generation. This was largely due to poverty, war, plague, and poor hygiene the younger populous took on most of this burden. In the 1600s, approximately 25 percent of newborn children died before their first birthday and another 25 percent died before their tenth (Cipallo, 1993). Therefore, the pre-industrial population did not increase substantially in Europe for hundreds of years. For example, Germany had an estimated population of 12 million in the year 1300. Over the course of 400 years, the population only increased to 15 million, a 20 percent increase over four centuries, according to Demographic Trends (2002).
Wealth in pre-industrial European society was not evenly distributed among the population, it was concentrated in the hands of the few, while poverty was common. In Florence, Italy, in 1427, 10 percent of the population—merchants, landowners, nobility— controlled 68 percent of wealth (Cipolla, 1993). This is not much different from the United States today where, in 2007, the top 10 percent of the population controlled 71 percent of the wealth (Business Insider, 2010). Most individuals in pre-industrial England lived with little or no savings. In England between the 15th and 18th centuries, 70 to 80 percent of household income went to buying food. And so, for the poor buying one piece of clothing was considered a luxury. Yet, society typically depended on peasants for food and taxes (Ashton, T.S, 1997). Although the clergy and nobles held majority of the wealth in Europe, they were not usually taxed, placing a further burden on peasants and craftsmen. This resulted in what Karl Marx (1848) called the “conflict theory”, between the poor (Proletarians) and the rich/middle class (Bourgeoisie).
Now, let us fast-forward to industrialization and consider a few global consequences. When the Industrial Revolution started in the 18th century, the great majority of people lived in the countryside. The growth of the cities coincided with the growth of the industry, resulting in the rise of stock markets, banking, rapid urbanization and the dismantling of the feudal system. The upside to urbanization was vast, it brought growth of other means of production apart from farming, thus creating more sources of income accessible to the collective. According to writer, Aastha Dogra (2016), due to the expansion of the city the common folk and working class had a better opportunity in seeking employment in the new working world. Accordingly, resulting in generation of more money and better livelihood.
Despite the expansion of urban centers leading to economic growth and job creation, it must be noted that urbanization also has negative aspects.
The rise in population of the cities creates many problems, such as, air and water pollution, increased crime rates, and poverty. Due to dense populations of people the spread of infectious diseases was rapid. Consequently, death rates in urban areas historically were higher than in rural areas. According to Nathan Keyfitz (1989), the only way urban areas maintained their existence until recently was by the continual in-migration of rural people. There is also the issue of class divide and gender inequality. Entrepreneurs, factory owners, and industrialists gained enormous wealth, while the working classes were confined to unsafe working environment, low-paying jobs, and unhealthy living conditions. Among those hard off were women and children as stated by Gender, Work, and wages in Industrial Revolution Britain author Joyce Burnette (2008). Men were given considerably higher wages than that of their female counterparts and children were seen as a source of low-cost labour. Men received the title of "bread-winners" and middle-class women were encouraged to stay at home and look after the children (Burnette, 2008). This resulted in the rise of age and gender discrimination in the urban
societies.
According to Marx (1848) as people came together in cities, they divided into groups demarcated by economic difference. The bourgeoisie and the proletariat, in turn inspiring new political views. Marx along with Freidrich Engels (1848) argued that the socioeconomic structure that emerged from the Industrial Revolution — capitalism — was repressive to the proletariat (poor). Stating that eventually the proletariat would revolt when exploitation became unbearable. This revelation can be seen in the development of labour unions. Although it began in England over two hundred years ago, the Industrial Revolution has had a global influence. Whether it be trade, manufacturing or jobs. Due to the revolution society is now a global community. The products one consumes has a multi-national origin, for example, Apple’s iPhone, was designed, built, and assembled on 3 different continents, using over 30 companies. The innovations during the Industrial Revolution accelerated the rise of an economic system known as capitalism. Business owners compete to make the best product that will attract the most buyers. It is believed that this system encourages innovation, high quality goods, and increases the wealth of countries. If that is the case, society has the Industrial Revolution to thank. In addition, the industrial revolution, whether one believes it improved society or not, it can be said that it reformed legislation. Thus, resulting in an increase in the basic social, economic, and political rights of the working class. It increased longevity of life, growth of the middle class and helped create a modern world view through proper use of science and technology. All of that and created the foundation of women’s and labour right that society has today.