Ch. 8 Vocab Terms

Industrialization

A transformation away from an agricultural- or resource-based economy, toward an economy based on mechanized manufacturing.

Factory system

A system that emerged during the Industrial Revolution, representing a shift from artisanal production and home-based industries to centralized manufacturing facilities.

Specialization of labor

The process where individuals or groups focus on specific tasks or roles in production, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.

Global manufacturing

The interconnected process of producing goods across various countries and regions, leveraging international supply chains.

Steam engine

Coal-fired engine that provided an almost limitless source of power during the Industrial Revolution, driving many machines.

Railroad

Mode of transportation that travels over the ground using parallel steel rails.

Steamship

Mode of transportation that significantly reduced sailing time between Britain and Argentina.

Urbanization

The growth of cities due to increased demand for food products and industrial labor.

Private property

The legal right of individuals or organizations to own and control assets.

Middle-class society

A British social stratum developed in the nineteenth century, composed of small businessmen and professionals.

Industrial Working class

Laborers who worked in factories and mines during the Industrial Revolution, facing long hours and low wages.

Wage-earning jobs

Positions that provide individuals with a salary or hourly pay in exchange for their labor.

Ideology of domesticity

A set of ideas defining the ideal role of middle-class women focusing on homemaking and child-rearing.

Laboring classes

The majority of the nineteenth-century population in Britain, comprising manual workers across various industries.

Progressives

Followers of an American political movement advocating reform measures to address the ills of industrialization.

Caudillos

Military strongmen who seized control of governments in nineteenth-century Latin America.

Dependent development

Latin America's economic growth largely financed by foreign capital, dependent on European and North American prosperity.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production for profit.

Laissez-Faire economics

Markets where individuals can operate freely without government intervention.

Transnational businesses

Global businesses producing goods in many countries, some with more assets than governments.

Standard of living

The average quality of life and economic conditions experienced by citizens.

Consumer goods

Products produced for direct use by consumers, widely available due to mass manufacturing.

Communism

An ideology advocating for a classless society with collective ownership of production.

Socialism

An economic system advocating for collective ownership to reduce inequality.

Telegraph

A system for long-distance communication using coded signals transmitted electronically.

Financial Instruments

Financial tools such as stock markets and limited-liability corporations that facilitate the growth of enterprises.

Economic modernization

The transition from agrarian to industrial economies characterized by increased productivity.

Social hierarchies

The division of classes in society, dictating access to resources and opportunities.

Public health crisis

Numerous health problems arose during the Industrial Revolution due to poor working conditions and pollution.

Infrastructure

The physical structures and systems supporting industrial growth and urbanization.

“Banana Republic”

A term describing states exploited by foreign interests, particularly in Central America.

“Anthropocene era”

A term denoting the significant impact of human activity on the Earth since the Industrial Revolution.

“Social Democracy”

An approach to socialism that rejects class struggle and advocates for gradual reforms.

Karl Marx

The most influential proponent of socialism who predicted a working-class revolution.

Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill

Influential figures providing the ideological underpinnings of industrial capitalism.

Muhammad Ali

An Ottoman subject who established factories in Egypt for cotton processing and weapon manufacturing.

Eli Whitney

American inventor known for inventing the cotton gin and developing mass production concepts.

Robert Owen

A British textile manufacturer advocating for better working conditions and community living.

Porfirio Diaz

Mexican president known for his authoritarian regime and efforts to modernize the country.

Benjamin Disraeli

Author of 'Sybil', describing the social divide in England during the Industrial Revolution.

John Rockefeller

American industrialist and philanthropist known for founding the Standard Oil Company.

Andrew Carnegie

An American industrialist known for his steel plant and philanthropy.

Industrial Revolution

A transformative period characterized by a shift from agrarian economies to industrialized ones.

Abandonment of Mercantilism

The shift from mercantilist policies to modern practices focusing on free trade.

Russian Revolution of 1905

A spontaneous rebellion in Russia leading to substantial governmental reforms.

Latin American export boom

Large-scale increase in Latin American exports to industrializing countries in the late 19th century.

Mexican Revolution

A conflict from 1910–1920 that overthrew the dictator Porfirio Díaz.

Second Industrial Revolution

A period that focused on advancements in chemicals, electricity, and precision machinery.

“Fossil fuel revolution”

The reliance on fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution, replacing earlier energy sources.

Meiji Restoration/Meiji Era

The political change in Japan leading to its modernization and industrialization.

Luddites

Skilled artisans who protested against machines threatening their jobs during the Industrial Revolution.

Wealth of Nations

Adam Smith's 1776 work establishing principles of modern economics.

The Communist Manifesto

A foundational text by Karl Marx outlining the principles of communism.

Das Kapital

Karl Marx's analysis of political economy focusing on capitalism's exploitation of labor.

British Textile Industry

The site of initial technological breakthroughs during the Industrial Revolution.

Labour Party

British political party established to promote peaceful transitions to socialism.

Socialism in the United States

A minor political movement advocating for social reforms in the U.S.

Shipbuilding in India & Southeast Asia

Significantly advanced during the Industrial Revolution, supporting maritime trade.

Iron Works in India

Underwent modernization to increase production capacity during the Industrial Revolution.

Textile Production in India and Egypt

Advanced significantly during the Industrial Revolution through mechanization and new technologies.

HSBC - Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation

A banking corporation founded to facilitate trade between Europe and Asia.

Unilever operations in British West Africa

Multinational corporation adapting strategies to local markets in the early 20th century.