Industrial Revolution

What is the Industrial Revolution?

The change in the methods of production from hand tools and “people power” to complex machines and new power sources, like steam. 

When did the Industrial Revolution occur?

1750-1914

Where did the Industrial Revolution begin?

England

England Geographic Factors

• Natural Resources like coal, iron, sheep

• Harbors

• Access to the sea for trade 

• Natural conditions were perfect for succession: coal and iron, sheep give best wool, harbors are plentiful, and the nation is near the sea.

Economic Factors

• Mercantilism & Imperialism 

— (wealth from colonies)           

• “laissez-faire” attitude of government   

— “To let be” - free enterprise with minimal government interference

• Capital ($$$) to invest      

Social Factors

• Hard work ethic

• Secular (wordly) focus

• Belief in the free market

• Movement of workers to Urban Areas 

— Results of Agrarian Revolution (we’ll talk about this)

Political Factors

• Stability since Glorious Revolution

• Investment in infrastructure (canals)

• Freedoms for the people

• Powerful navy to protect trade

• Protective tariffs (taxes) on British products 

The Agrarian Revolution

• Changes in farming methods and techniques

• New machines like the seed drill, increased output

Seed Drill

• Maximizing your land

• Planting and harvesting in an orderly function

• Requires only one person

Crop Rotation

• Re-fertilizes the soil

• Allows the fields to be used longer and more effectively 

What did Seed Drill and Crop Rotation lead to?

Inventions like these made farming more efficient and resulted in more food being produced.

Enclosure Movement

• The move by Parliament to fence off (enclose) common lands to create large farms for the wealthy, who could benefit from the new technology 

• Affected poor, small farmers 

• Many farmers out of work - work at other farms 

Results of the Agrarian Revolution

• Agrarian (agricultural) revolution leads to more food

• More food = population growth

• England’s population nearly doubled during the early 1800s 

• Can the old way of producing things still work?

Domestic System (Pre-Industrialization)

A system of producing goods based upon work done at home using materials supplied by the individuals.

• (Also known as the “cottage system” or the “putting- out system”)

Factory System (Result of Industrialization)

A system of producing goods using machinery and division of labor.

Domestic System - Quality

• Product is made in the home, by hand

• Product takes time to make

• Worker is highly skilled at making their product

• Product is of higher quality, reflecting skill of worker

• Product is unique and individual - there are slight differences between pieces

• Asking price can be high to reflect time and effort of worker

• Output cannot meet demand

Domestic System - Pay

Individuals set their own price and are paid by the piece - “Piecemeal”

Domestic System - Working Hours

• Individuals set their own days/hours - you don't work, you don’t get paid

• Take a break whenever you want

Domestic System - Working Conditions

• Individuals work out of their homes

• Individual is their own boss

Factory System - Quality of Product

• Product is made in a factory

• Product is made quickly - quantity over quality

• Worker is of limited skill - only good at one part of process

• Product is of lower quality

• Products should be identical

• Asking price is low - volume helps the business make money

• System is designed to meet demand for products

Factory System - Pay

Workers are paid an hourly wage - regardless of what they produce

Factory System - Working Hours

Workers forced to work according to bell schedule and hours established by factory

Factory System - Working Conditions

• Machinery is incredibly dangerous - on the job accidents and injuries are common (women’s hair, children, loss of fingers and limbs, death)

• No insurance or workman’s compensation - can’t work = fired