The Global Transformations of the Industrial Revolution

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on the Industrial Revolution and its global transformations.

What was one major consequence of the Industrial Revolution for communities in Britain?

The Industrial Revolution led to the degradation of working conditions and a drop in life expectancy for many people moving to cities.

How did the Industrial Revolution affect social structures in rural areas?

The Industrial Revolution shifted extended family communities in villages to nuclear families in urban settings, leading to a lack of support in times of crisis.

What does Friedrich Engels' work, 'The Condition of the Working Class in England,' highlight about industrialization?

Engels concluded that English workers were treated like machines, exploited for the profit of a few aristocrats.

According to historian Jane Humphries, what percentage of England's industrial workforce were children during the early nineteenth century?

Up to 15 percent of England’s industrial workforce were children.

How did women's roles in the workforce change due to the Industrial Revolution?

Women moved from spinning textiles at home to working in factories, with many married women leaving the workforce due to societal pressures.

What was one of the key social reforms that arose in response to the conditions of the Industrial Revolution?

The reform movements aimed at pushing children out of factories and into public education, advocating for minimum wage and safe working conditions.

What were the three global commodities discussed in relation to the Industrial Revolution?

Sugar, wheat, and copper.

How did the British government's decision to outlaw the slave trade impact sugar production?

Sugar plantations became less profitable in the Caribbean, leading colonizers to shift production to Southeast Asia.

What role did wheat play in the Industrial Revolution according to historian Thomas Finger?

Wheat was essential for feeding workers in factories, and its production was revitalized globally to meet British demand.

How did the Industrial Revolution change the nature of copper production in Swansea, Wales?

Swansea became a global center for copper smelting, importing copper ore from various continents due to advancements in steamship technology.