Industrial Revolution Changes

Throughout the course of history there are certain events that have certainly had monumental effects across the globe—effects that have shaped the world to how it is seen today. Some of those moments include the rise of Christianity, the scientific revolution, and the enlightenment, to name a few. Among the most important of these paramount moments ranks the Industrial Revolution. To this date, the effects of the Industrial Revolution are so common they often go unnoticed. In the span of only a few short years Western society was profoundly changed; it took drastic steps in the direction of development of the societies that are seen today. However, these changes did not always bear positives effects—with change, inadvertently there were effects
During the times before industrialization, lands all throughout Europe were largely agrarian based, just as they had been for centuries. Before the Industrial Revolution, in England specifically, approximately one-third of the population were agricultural laborers. The methods of production in pre-industrial society were specialized. If a particular type of good or service were needed, the consumer and customer looked towards either artisans or families that manufactured the desired good or service. This format of exchange drove individuals into competition with others for business, leading to guilds and other organizations centered on specific skill-sets of artisans. This type of work, coupled with farming, was the basis for pre-industrial Britain’s economy. However, in the mid-19th century, small scale manufacturing and production would soon become an oddity of the past as Britain transitioned into a period of technological advancements and
Populations flocked to the cities looking for work. While it was practical for workers to live close to factories, this rapid increase in population density led to several problems for those cities. The influx of people resulted in a general decrease of quality of life due to crowded neighborhoods, polluted air, filthy cities, and harsh working conditions. Initially, these negative consequences of industrialization and urbanization led to an alarmingly high death rate within cities due disease caused by sanitation problems and air pollution. Recognizing this was an imperative issue in Britain, the Public Health Act of 1848 was enacted—a first crucial step to improved public health. With time and advancement in technology and medicine, mortality rate began dropping