Summary: The First Industrial Revolution
HUM102-03
Research project
Instructor: Keith Green, Ph.D.
Shuxian Shen
Economic changes during the First Industrial Revolution
The First Industrial Revolution evolved into the Second Industrial Revolution in the transition years between 1840 and 1870, when technological and economic progress gained momentum with the increasing adoption of steam-powered boats, ships and railways, the large scale manufacture of machine tools and the increasing use of steam powered factories. It started in the United Kingdom, and spread throughout the world quickly. Almost every aspect of the world was influenced in some way. Economy is one of the major parts which can show how the Industrial Revolution changed the world.
Global transport infrastructure …show more content…
For example, if we add the effects of unemployment, poor harvests, war, pollution, urban crowding, and other social ills, the modest rise in average income could well have been accompanied by a fall in the standard of living of the working classes. In addition, while industrialization brought about an increased volume and variety of manufactured goods and an improved standard of living for some, it also resulted in often grim employment and living conditions for the poor and working classes. Most economic historians agree that the distribution of income became more unequal between 1790 and 1840. (Szreter, 84-112)
Although the factory system factories provided a variety of employment opportunities not previously available, most of them were generally at a lower skill level. The labor force at the bottom was often stuck there; it was difficult for them to move to higher skill levels and escape the working class. The working conditions of the bottom labor force were often horrible and the pay was bad. The traditional protections of the medieval and early modern eras, such as guilds and mandated wage-and-price standards, were disappearing. (Frangopulo, …show more content…
Beatings and long hours were common, with some child coal miners and hurriers working from 4 am until 5 pm. Conditions were dangerous, with some children killed when they dozed off and fell into the path of the carts, while others died from gas explosions. Many children developed lung cancer and other diseases and died before the age of 25. Workhouses would sell orphans and abandoned children as "pauper apprentices", working without wages for board and lodging. Those who ran away would be whipped and returned to their masters, with some masters shackling them to prevent escape. Employers could pay a child less than an adult even though their productivity was comparable; there was no need for strength to operate an industrial machine, and since the industrial system was completely new there were no experienced adult laborers. This made child labor the labor of choice for manufacturing in the early phases of the Industrial Revolution between the 18th and 19th centuries. In England and Scotland in 1788, two-thirds of the workers in 143 water-powered cotton mills were described as
Research project
Instructor: Keith Green, Ph.D.
Shuxian Shen
Economic changes during the First Industrial Revolution
The First Industrial Revolution evolved into the Second Industrial Revolution in the transition years between 1840 and 1870, when technological and economic progress gained momentum with the increasing adoption of steam-powered boats, ships and railways, the large scale manufacture of machine tools and the increasing use of steam powered factories. It started in the United Kingdom, and spread throughout the world quickly. Almost every aspect of the world was influenced in some way. Economy is one of the major parts which can show how the Industrial Revolution changed the world.
Global transport infrastructure …show more content…
For example, if we add the effects of unemployment, poor harvests, war, pollution, urban crowding, and other social ills, the modest rise in average income could well have been accompanied by a fall in the standard of living of the working classes. In addition, while industrialization brought about an increased volume and variety of manufactured goods and an improved standard of living for some, it also resulted in often grim employment and living conditions for the poor and working classes. Most economic historians agree that the distribution of income became more unequal between 1790 and 1840. (Szreter, 84-112)
Although the factory system factories provided a variety of employment opportunities not previously available, most of them were generally at a lower skill level. The labor force at the bottom was often stuck there; it was difficult for them to move to higher skill levels and escape the working class. The working conditions of the bottom labor force were often horrible and the pay was bad. The traditional protections of the medieval and early modern eras, such as guilds and mandated wage-and-price standards, were disappearing. (Frangopulo, …show more content…
Beatings and long hours were common, with some child coal miners and hurriers working from 4 am until 5 pm. Conditions were dangerous, with some children killed when they dozed off and fell into the path of the carts, while others died from gas explosions. Many children developed lung cancer and other diseases and died before the age of 25. Workhouses would sell orphans and abandoned children as "pauper apprentices", working without wages for board and lodging. Those who ran away would be whipped and returned to their masters, with some masters shackling them to prevent escape. Employers could pay a child less than an adult even though their productivity was comparable; there was no need for strength to operate an industrial machine, and since the industrial system was completely new there were no experienced adult laborers. This made child labor the labor of choice for manufacturing in the early phases of the Industrial Revolution between the 18th and 19th centuries. In England and Scotland in 1788, two-thirds of the workers in 143 water-powered cotton mills were described as