The Communist Manifesto: An Era Of The Industrial Revolution
Eish Maheshwari Industrial Revolution Research Paper During the 1750s and its subsequent years, the world entered an era of modernization and economic development: the Industrial Revolution. This drastic change was a transformation of the economy that impacted the lives of everyone in society, regardless of social status. Due to British colonial expansion into the Americas and western Africa, the Caribbean sugar trade brought capital into Britain that could be used for investments. Furthermore, the presence of constitutional monarchies and government encouragement allowed the economic systems of Europe to adapt, in order to modernize. Primarily, the Industrial Revolution was the transition from an agricultural and handicraft
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economy to one focused on factory production and manufacturing using machinery (Curth). Political systems, societal ideologies, and economic production were greatly altered. Despite all of the positive contributions of the Industrial Revolution, this period of growth and development should be remembered for its abysmal contributions to modern societies, rather than its beneficial improvements. Due to an explosion in human population and overcrowding, the quality of city life and working conditions were disfigured for urban dwellers with the establishment of inhumane conditions. In addition, the demand for cheap labor (for high profits) by factory owners drastically altered the social system, creating greater divides between classes and disrupting family life. Due to increased overcrowding within urban complexes (because of improved sanitation and decreases in crude death rate resulting in a growing population), the Industrial Revolution diminished the quality of living for millions and formed unsafe working conditions all throughout Europe. For instance, cities were littered with immense amounts of pollution from the waste products of mechanized processes. German socialist Friedrich Engels noted, “foul pools of stagnant urine and excrement… coal-black, foul-smelling water streams, full of debris and refuse” (Engels 78) visible along the Manchester riverbanks. The houses in the region were covered in pungent odors from dirt because of coal dust pollution generated by factory systems. In addition, debris was scattered throughout the landscape (including the air, sidewalks, and waterways), making breathing and travel laborious. The rivers were also contaminated with an excess of factory waste, toxifying water sources for thousands of people. The overall living conditions were horrible as a direct result of increased production factory waste, ruined water supplies, and dirt spewed throughout streets. The overcrowding that originated from large amounts of people crammed into tight city spaces led to the spread of diseases and pollution because of increased close contact between people. This devastated the living conditions of cities as environmental damage and factory pollution beginning with the Industrial Revolution were a major negative impact on society. In addition to environmental deterioration, the Industrial Revolution established unethical working conditions. For instance, hours, pay, and safety in mines were disregarded and considered not important, unreasonable, and inhumane. The air had limited oxygen and was composed of dust and smoke (from blasting powder) (Engels 200). Furthermore, it was scientifically proven to damage major organs of the body: the lungs, heart, and digestive system, resulting in an average worker lifetime of only 45 years. The long hours in dangerous and intolerable conditions reduced the health of workers tremendously. In addition, Peter Gaskell described the life of a factory worker who “toil[s]... for fourteen or sixteen hours, in a heated and crowded mill” (Gaskell 23). Factory hours were extremely long relative to modern work hours and exhausted workers. Factories were very hot and crowded, creating an uncomfortable and straining situation for its workers. The conditions in factories during this time were unbearable due to poor air supplies, dangerous mining endeavors, roughly sixteen-hour workdays, and minuscule payment. Overcrowding from internal migration to cities led to competition between workers for jobs because of a limited number of vacant spots. As a result, people were forced to accept poor conditions and low pay as it was better than no source of income at all. As populations increased, working conditions decreased, exacerbating the problem. Overall, the effects of overpopulation led to cities covered in coke, grime, and pollution. It led to many unsanitary, dirty, and unsafe (negative) influences that resulted from the commencement of mechanization. In addition, overpopulation resulted in miserable lives for workers because of rising competition and lack of safety, creating a plethora of negative consequences for the Industrial Revolution. The demand for cheap labor from the bourgeoisie led to further class divisions, increasing the income gap, and the disruption of family life through gender inequity and child labor.
The Industrial Revolution led to the creation of the middle class, a social group between wealthy land-owning farmers and poor farmers who lost money through the “enclosure movement.” This led to four distinct social classes: the peasants, working class, middle class, and aristocrats. In The Communist Manifesto, it is believed that the “The modern bourgeois society... has not done away with class antagonisms... new conditions of oppression… but created new forms of struggle in place of the old ones” (Marx and Friederich 14). The rise of the middle class, new factory owners, lead to the control and exploiting of the working class. This new class has emerged and made immense profits through unfair treatment of workers because of demands for cheap labor. This division further enhances a social gap between the wealthy and destitute and creates social systems that can be noted in modern day societies as well. In addition to a class divide, family life was severely changed during the Industrial Revolution. As women began working and child labor became more prevalent, the traditional family model was disturbed. For instance, in Cornish mines, about 19,000 men, and 11,000 women and children are employed, in part above and in part below ground (Engels 200). Women and children began to work within factories and sometimes acted as the primary breadwinners of the household. Furthermore, women in the United States and other areas were earning less money than men; about $3.00 to $3.50, 70-75% less than men (Dublin). This gender inequity was the underlying problem for many households. As more women were hired (because they could be paid less), men were forced to stay at home in many families. This led to increased alcoholism and crime within cities as men spent more time in pubs and other similar
establishments (Engel 127). The lower wages meant higher profits for factory owners, so women and children became an integral part of the workforce. In addition, the introduction of factories had “torn away from the family its sentimental veil, and has reduced the family relation to a mere money relation” (Marx and Friedrich 16). The standard family model, consisting of a working father, stay-at-home mother, and children, was disrupted. All of these changes were because of an increasing demand for economic gain and increased profit, resulting in reduced family relations. Relationships became based on monetary systems, rather than the traditional beliefs of the past. Overall, the rise of middle class further divided social structure and with more income-based classes. Furthermore, increased women and children in the workforce, laboring for lower wages led to family model being disregarded and alcoholism to rise. The Industrial Revolution brought more negative effects to an already poor social system and worsened the ideologies of populations.
Admittedly, one might object that the Industrial Revolution was a period of technological advancement and immense economic growth. The changes to the social systems and growing prevalence of cheap labor allowed overall profits to increase, making the state as a whole, wealthier. For instance, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (measured as a quantity of finished goods and services produced per year, divided by the population) of Britain rose almost $4,000 between 1750-1900 (Curth). Economic prosperity was experienced by industrialized countries as trade and new markets increased. As a result, the wealth and power of states exploded, allowing them to generate even more capital, creating a positive feedback mechanism for development. However, wealth was not distributed evenly throughout the population. A great social divide existed as workers were paid so little and barely had a profit while the wealthy profited immensely. This was described that “no sooner is the exploitation of the labourer by the manufacturer” (Marx and Friedrich 18); Manufacturers were unfairly using workers for an economic advantage and increased profits. They disregarded the atmosphere of factory life, simply for increased economic productivity. As a result, the majority of people were still poor, financially struggling due to low pay and lack of jobs. Only certain individuals became affluent. The select wealthier individuals, who were significantly wealthier compared to the majority of the population, brought the GDP per capita to a higher misleading value. This increase did not show evenly spread growth within countries, but rather large increases for a limited group of people. In addition, the Industrial Revolution only occurred in a few countries when it initially began. For instance, Germany, the United States, and Belgium were first to industrialize after Britain (Curth). Growth was limited to a few European countries when it first began. Furthermore, these countries were already fairly wealthy after the effects of old colonialism. Other countries throughout the world and even Europe itself did not industrialize until many years later. This led to an unequal distribution of wealth and technology on international levels as well, not only within countries. Although it seems as if there was great economic growth for countries during the Industrial Revolution, growth was concentrated in Europe & the United States and only was beneficial for the wealthy and sometimes worsened lives for the poor.
The period of growth and development that was known as the Industrial Revolution should be remembered for its abysmal contributions to modern societies, rather than its beneficial improvements. Because of overpopulation causing overcrowding, the quality of city life and working conditions were disfigured for urban dwellers with the establishment of inhumane conditions. In addition, the demand for cheap labor (for high profits) by factory owners drastically altered the social system, creating greater divides between classes and disrupting family life. Overpopulation in societies led to pollution and environmental stress in cities and horrible working conditions with low pay, long hours, and dangerous situations within factories and mines. The social system was further divided by the creation of the new middle class, and the traditional family model was not practiced because of low wages. Even to this to this day, the impacts of industrialization in many developing countries is visible. For instance, industrialization in the city of Linfen, China and other developing countries is demonstrating the same problems that occurred during the Industrial Revolution. Factories in Linfen are spewing myriad amounts of chemicals into the environment, leading to high pollution, unbreathable air, and illnesses. The coal industry, although thriving in Linfen, is destroying the well-being of workers and individuals who live there with industrial processes and pesticides (attempts for agricultural yield increases). If these changes are overlooked, many newly industrializing states in Africa, Asia, and South America may experience issues equal to or worse than those of the Industrial Revolution. In order to improve the societal needs and well-being of populations, the negative influences of the Industrial Revolution must be remembered to avoid repetition of an overall negative change.
economy to one focused on factory production and manufacturing using machinery (Curth). Political systems, societal ideologies, and economic production were greatly altered. Despite all of the positive contributions of the Industrial Revolution, this period of growth and development should be remembered for its abysmal contributions to modern societies, rather than its beneficial improvements. Due to an explosion in human population and overcrowding, the quality of city life and working conditions were disfigured for urban dwellers with the establishment of inhumane conditions. In addition, the demand for cheap labor (for high profits) by factory owners drastically altered the social system, creating greater divides between classes and disrupting family life. Due to increased overcrowding within urban complexes (because of improved sanitation and decreases in crude death rate resulting in a growing population), the Industrial Revolution diminished the quality of living for millions and formed unsafe working conditions all throughout Europe. For instance, cities were littered with immense amounts of pollution from the waste products of mechanized processes. German socialist Friedrich Engels noted, “foul pools of stagnant urine and excrement… coal-black, foul-smelling water streams, full of debris and refuse” (Engels 78) visible along the Manchester riverbanks. The houses in the region were covered in pungent odors from dirt because of coal dust pollution generated by factory systems. In addition, debris was scattered throughout the landscape (including the air, sidewalks, and waterways), making breathing and travel laborious. The rivers were also contaminated with an excess of factory waste, toxifying water sources for thousands of people. The overall living conditions were horrible as a direct result of increased production factory waste, ruined water supplies, and dirt spewed throughout streets. The overcrowding that originated from large amounts of people crammed into tight city spaces led to the spread of diseases and pollution because of increased close contact between people. This devastated the living conditions of cities as environmental damage and factory pollution beginning with the Industrial Revolution were a major negative impact on society. In addition to environmental deterioration, the Industrial Revolution established unethical working conditions. For instance, hours, pay, and safety in mines were disregarded and considered not important, unreasonable, and inhumane. The air had limited oxygen and was composed of dust and smoke (from blasting powder) (Engels 200). Furthermore, it was scientifically proven to damage major organs of the body: the lungs, heart, and digestive system, resulting in an average worker lifetime of only 45 years. The long hours in dangerous and intolerable conditions reduced the health of workers tremendously. In addition, Peter Gaskell described the life of a factory worker who “toil[s]... for fourteen or sixteen hours, in a heated and crowded mill” (Gaskell 23). Factory hours were extremely long relative to modern work hours and exhausted workers. Factories were very hot and crowded, creating an uncomfortable and straining situation for its workers. The conditions in factories during this time were unbearable due to poor air supplies, dangerous mining endeavors, roughly sixteen-hour workdays, and minuscule payment. Overcrowding from internal migration to cities led to competition between workers for jobs because of a limited number of vacant spots. As a result, people were forced to accept poor conditions and low pay as it was better than no source of income at all. As populations increased, working conditions decreased, exacerbating the problem. Overall, the effects of overpopulation led to cities covered in coke, grime, and pollution. It led to many unsanitary, dirty, and unsafe (negative) influences that resulted from the commencement of mechanization. In addition, overpopulation resulted in miserable lives for workers because of rising competition and lack of safety, creating a plethora of negative consequences for the Industrial Revolution. The demand for cheap labor from the bourgeoisie led to further class divisions, increasing the income gap, and the disruption of family life through gender inequity and child labor.
The Industrial Revolution led to the creation of the middle class, a social group between wealthy land-owning farmers and poor farmers who lost money through the “enclosure movement.” This led to four distinct social classes: the peasants, working class, middle class, and aristocrats. In The Communist Manifesto, it is believed that the “The modern bourgeois society... has not done away with class antagonisms... new conditions of oppression… but created new forms of struggle in place of the old ones” (Marx and Friederich 14). The rise of the middle class, new factory owners, lead to the control and exploiting of the working class. This new class has emerged and made immense profits through unfair treatment of workers because of demands for cheap labor. This division further enhances a social gap between the wealthy and destitute and creates social systems that can be noted in modern day societies as well. In addition to a class divide, family life was severely changed during the Industrial Revolution. As women began working and child labor became more prevalent, the traditional family model was disturbed. For instance, in Cornish mines, about 19,000 men, and 11,000 women and children are employed, in part above and in part below ground (Engels 200). Women and children began to work within factories and sometimes acted as the primary breadwinners of the household. Furthermore, women in the United States and other areas were earning less money than men; about $3.00 to $3.50, 70-75% less than men (Dublin). This gender inequity was the underlying problem for many households. As more women were hired (because they could be paid less), men were forced to stay at home in many families. This led to increased alcoholism and crime within cities as men spent more time in pubs and other similar
establishments (Engel 127). The lower wages meant higher profits for factory owners, so women and children became an integral part of the workforce. In addition, the introduction of factories had “torn away from the family its sentimental veil, and has reduced the family relation to a mere money relation” (Marx and Friedrich 16). The standard family model, consisting of a working father, stay-at-home mother, and children, was disrupted. All of these changes were because of an increasing demand for economic gain and increased profit, resulting in reduced family relations. Relationships became based on monetary systems, rather than the traditional beliefs of the past. Overall, the rise of middle class further divided social structure and with more income-based classes. Furthermore, increased women and children in the workforce, laboring for lower wages led to family model being disregarded and alcoholism to rise. The Industrial Revolution brought more negative effects to an already poor social system and worsened the ideologies of populations.
Admittedly, one might object that the Industrial Revolution was a period of technological advancement and immense economic growth. The changes to the social systems and growing prevalence of cheap labor allowed overall profits to increase, making the state as a whole, wealthier. For instance, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (measured as a quantity of finished goods and services produced per year, divided by the population) of Britain rose almost $4,000 between 1750-1900 (Curth). Economic prosperity was experienced by industrialized countries as trade and new markets increased. As a result, the wealth and power of states exploded, allowing them to generate even more capital, creating a positive feedback mechanism for development. However, wealth was not distributed evenly throughout the population. A great social divide existed as workers were paid so little and barely had a profit while the wealthy profited immensely. This was described that “no sooner is the exploitation of the labourer by the manufacturer” (Marx and Friedrich 18); Manufacturers were unfairly using workers for an economic advantage and increased profits. They disregarded the atmosphere of factory life, simply for increased economic productivity. As a result, the majority of people were still poor, financially struggling due to low pay and lack of jobs. Only certain individuals became affluent. The select wealthier individuals, who were significantly wealthier compared to the majority of the population, brought the GDP per capita to a higher misleading value. This increase did not show evenly spread growth within countries, but rather large increases for a limited group of people. In addition, the Industrial Revolution only occurred in a few countries when it initially began. For instance, Germany, the United States, and Belgium were first to industrialize after Britain (Curth). Growth was limited to a few European countries when it first began. Furthermore, these countries were already fairly wealthy after the effects of old colonialism. Other countries throughout the world and even Europe itself did not industrialize until many years later. This led to an unequal distribution of wealth and technology on international levels as well, not only within countries. Although it seems as if there was great economic growth for countries during the Industrial Revolution, growth was concentrated in Europe & the United States and only was beneficial for the wealthy and sometimes worsened lives for the poor.
The period of growth and development that was known as the Industrial Revolution should be remembered for its abysmal contributions to modern societies, rather than its beneficial improvements. Because of overpopulation causing overcrowding, the quality of city life and working conditions were disfigured for urban dwellers with the establishment of inhumane conditions. In addition, the demand for cheap labor (for high profits) by factory owners drastically altered the social system, creating greater divides between classes and disrupting family life. Overpopulation in societies led to pollution and environmental stress in cities and horrible working conditions with low pay, long hours, and dangerous situations within factories and mines. The social system was further divided by the creation of the new middle class, and the traditional family model was not practiced because of low wages. Even to this to this day, the impacts of industrialization in many developing countries is visible. For instance, industrialization in the city of Linfen, China and other developing countries is demonstrating the same problems that occurred during the Industrial Revolution. Factories in Linfen are spewing myriad amounts of chemicals into the environment, leading to high pollution, unbreathable air, and illnesses. The coal industry, although thriving in Linfen, is destroying the well-being of workers and individuals who live there with industrial processes and pesticides (attempts for agricultural yield increases). If these changes are overlooked, many newly industrializing states in Africa, Asia, and South America may experience issues equal to or worse than those of the Industrial Revolution. In order to improve the societal needs and well-being of populations, the negative influences of the Industrial Revolution must be remembered to avoid repetition of an overall negative change.