The Industrial Revolution and New Ways of Thinking

Vocabulary terms and key concepts covering the Agricultural Revolution, the rise of industrialization in Great Britain, living and working conditions, and the resulting economic and political philosophies.

Industrial Revolution

The greatly increased output of machine-made goods that began in England during the 18th century, spanning from $1750$ to $1850$.

Enclosure

The practice of taking over and fencing off land formerly shared by peasant farmers, forcing many small farmers off their land.

Reaper

A new agricultural invention developed during the Agricultural Revolution specifically for harvesting grain.

James Watt

The inventor who made the steam engine that became a key power source for the Industrial Revolution.

Textiles

Great Britain's largest industry during the Industrial Revolution, which dealt with cotton cloth.

Turnpikes

Privately built roads that charged a fee to travelers who used them.

The Rocket

A locomotive that pulled carriages on iron rails and could travel over $24\,\text{mph}$.

Clermont

A steamboat that reached speeds of over $5\,\text{mph}$.

Urbanization

The rapid movement of people from farming villages to cities.

Entrepreneurs

People who assumed the financial risks of starting a new business during the Industrial Revolution.

Labor unions

Workers' organizations that won the right to bargain with employers for better wages, hours, and working conditions.

Utilitarianism

The idea that the goal of society should be the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Socialism

An economic and political system in which the people as a whole own and operate the means of production rather than private individuals, aiming to end poverty.

Utopia

Ideal communities in which all work was shared and all property was owned in common.

Communism

A form of socialism that sees class struggle between employers and employees, advocates for a classless society, and despises capitalism.

The Communist Manifesto

A book written by Karl Marx that became known as the Bible for communism.

The Wealth of Nations

A book written by Adam Smith outlining how a free market would make prices more affordable for everybody.