Effects of Agricultural Revolution (Agrarian Revolution):
(New farming technologies/practices) Increased farm/food productivity (This must happen before a country industrialized)
Seed Drill-Jethro Tull ▪
Townshend Crop Rotation Increased life expectancy (for middle & wealthy classes) Increased population Allows Industrial Revolution to Begin in England
Why England?
England 1st: irregular coastline, plentiful natural resources, large labor supply, lots of capital
Sufficient (Plenty) coal and iron ore reserves and a good transportation system Industrial Revolution: (depended on technological developments)
Causes:
The shift from a man-made/domestic system + introduction of the factory system
Demand for goods increased as goods became cheaper to produce “evils” of the factory system led to government regulation, reforms, and labor unions
Technological Effects:
Railroads helped promote the factory system and urbanization (growth of cities)
Urbanization and industrialization prompt changes in traditional beliefs and customs
A growing and influential middle class emerges (increased social mobility)
Economic Effects:
Economic Change Capitalism (U.S.A) ▪ (Free) Market system—prices based on supply and demand, motivated by profit ▪ Democratic Government—people are the source of gov’t power ▪
Entrepreneurs—business people willing to risk their own money for profit
Freedom to Pursue self-interest in a free market economy ▪
Private property/business ownership
Social Effects:
Class system (A growing middle class) ▪ Early Capitalism=Laissez fair capitalism (supported by Adam Smith in his book, Wealth of Nations)—minimal government involvement in business practices—let the market/owners make the economic decisions ●
Examples—free trade, no minimum wage or gov’t regulation (that comes later) o Social Darwinism—theory used to support capitalism ▪
Survival of the fittest ▪ upward social mobility and work ethic are closely related ▪
Individuals should succeed through their own efforts
Government Effects:
Socialism—(Democratic Socialist Countries today: France, England, Canada) ▪
Usually democratic government
Much of Business is controlled by society as a whole/gov’t control of business
Brought on by evils of the Industrialization/factory system
May have private ownership and classes
Robert Owen & Jeremy Bentham=Utilitarians-greatest good for the greatest number (early socialists)
Malthus-population will outgrow the food supply, famine, disease, and war are natural checks on population.
David Ricardo Communism—Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels: The Communist Manifesto (book) ▪
Government=dictatorship
Brought on by evils of Industrialization/factory system
Revolts + Long-Term Effects:
Revolution of the workers:
Industrial Revolution benefits the wealthy and exploits (takes advantage of) the poor ●