How Did The Industrial Revolution Improve Life In Great Britain?

European History DBQ

The Industrial Revolution is responsible for modern society. A lot of scientific breakthroughs and modern developments would not have been possible without the Industrial Revolution. The train was built, the light bulb invented. Ideas were now spreading across the world. Marxism. Socialism. Capitalism. The Industrial Revolution was a new era. However, the question is still raised: did the Industrial Revolution improve life in Great Britain? The Industrial Revolution improved life in Great Britain due to the major technological, economical, and social advancements. The train - or “Rocket” - developed by Robert Stephenson was a pillar for the growth that began during the Industrial Revolution. Document 1 mentions that,
In the interview it mentions how Joseph had to work 15 hour days, with a 30 minute break at noon. This interview - however heartbreaking - doesn’t show the true extent of child labour during the industrial revolution. Joseph Hebergam, interviewed on the 7th of July, 1832, was merely in an unlucky time of the Industrial Revolution, and just like the many technological advancements, there were a lot of social advancements. Child labour was heavily regulated in the 1833 Child Labour Act. This made 2 hours of education mandatory for children working in factories, as well as a maximum 10 hour work day for children under 16 years of age. Joseph Hebergam was unfortunately employed during a bad working phase. The Industrial Revolution was supposed to be an era of revolution and reformation, and once people started to realize the detriments of child labour, they were able to heal the process. This source therefore shouldn’t be taken with much weight. Yes, child labour conditions were bad during the Industrial Revolution, however they were reformed in later years and working conditions did improve. This is much like the 20th century racial segregation. In the 20th century, African-American people were being heavily discriminated against, however, toward the end of the century, they gained many rights and were being considered as equals to their white counterparts. If you look
The living conditions during the Industrial Revolution may not have been the greatest, but compared to post-industrial revolution, they seemed “godly.” The Industrial Revolution created many inventions that we use to this day, such as the train, and lightbulb. This was also an age of ideas. New ways of life were spreading. Marxism. Socialism. Capitalism. This era allowed people to think for themselves, instead of adhering to the monarchy’s every word. The Industrial Revolution also created better living conditions, with an increased birthrate, and a decreased mortality rate. The Industrial Revolution definitely improved conditions in Great