Topic 6.2 Industrial Revolution Day 1-1

AP Euro Overview

Topic: Industrial Revolution in Britain

Instructor: Mr. Buttell

Context: Transformation of Great Britain and its role in early industrialization.

Key Factors of British Industrialization

Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment

• Fostered a new worldview that emphasized reason and empirical evidence, laying the intellectual groundwork for technological innovations.

• Encouraged inquiry, innovation, and progress which spurred advancements in various fields, including manufacturing and engineering.

Enclosure Movement

• Common lands were enclosed by acts of Parliament, leading to urban migration as former agrarian workers sought factory jobs.

• Increased agricultural efficiency as innovative farming methods were adopted, resulting in bountiful crops and significantly lower food prices.

• Creation of a labor surplus that fed into industrial factories, providing a workforce for growing industries.

Economic Influences

• The expanding Atlantic economy facilitated extensive trade networks with India, China, and Latin America, providing diverse raw materials.

• British mercantilism focused on exploiting colonies for raw materials and was intricately linked to the Atlantic slave trade, which provided labor for burgeoning factories in England.

Role of Infrastructure

• Development of early canals starting in the 1770s significantly improved the transportation of essential raw materials like coal and iron, critical for industrial growth.

• Geographic advantage: With no part of England more than 50 miles from navigable waters, this connectivity fueled industrial expansion and accessibility of resources.

Coal Mining

Growth in Coal Production (1800-1914)

• 1800: 1 ton of coal produced with a workforce of 50,000 miners.

• 1850: Increased production to 30 million tons with 200,000 miners, highlighting the rapid industrial escalation of the era.

• 1880: Coal production soared to 300 million tons with 500,000 miners, establishing coal as a critical component for manufacturing power.

Young Miners and Child Labor

• Exploitation of child labor was rampant, particularly among 'hurriers' who were responsible for hauling coal in mines, often subjecting them to dangerous conditions.

Legislative and Economic Policies

Support for Manufacturing

• Ordinary families gained disposable income due to industrialization, significantly increasing demand for manufactured goods.

• Parliament implemented taxes to fund a navy that protected commerce and enacted protective tariffs via the Navigation Acts to support British manufacturing.

• The Industrial Revolution was marked by major inventions and technical advancements, with economic growth peaking dramatically from 0.7% (1700-1760) to 3% (1801-1831).

Textile Innovations

Limitations of the Putting-Out System

• Constant thread shortages led to significant innovations in textile production— a necessary evolution driven by increasing demand.

• The introduction of cotton textiles imported from India created competition for English manufacturers, transitioning them towards mechanized production processes.

Key Innovations in Textile Manufacturing

• Spinning Jenny (1764): Invented by James Hargreaves, it significantly increased thread production levels, revolutionizing the textile industry.

• Power Loom: Invented by Edmund Cartwright in 1785, this water-powered device dramatically improved weaving efficiency in textile factories.

Growth of Textile Factories

• Development of factories escalated quickly, with an increase in loom numbers and a workforce exceeding 1 million by 1850, highlighting the scale of industrial labor.

Factory System

Characteristics

• Factories operated on rigid schedules, enforcing long hours (12-14 hours per day) under hazardous conditions, which fostered dissatisfaction among workers.

• Work often involved monotonous tasks, contributing to cries for labor reform and better working conditions.

Steam Engine Revolution

Advancements

• As wood supplies dwindled, coal became the primary energy source for generating mechanical energy, yielding improvements in productivity across various sectors.

• James Watt's improvements to the steam engine (patented in 1763) enabled broader usage in diverse industries like textiles, mining, and transportation.

Economic Growth from Efficiency

• The adoption of steam power dramatically fueled coal production and led to a monumental increase in iron output from 17,000 tons (1740) to over 3 million tons (1844), showcasing the revolution's efficiency gains.

Transportation Innovations

Development of Railroads

• Richard Trevithick built the first steam locomotive (1816), later enhanced by George Stephenson’s 'Rocket' (1829), representing milestones in transportation technology.

• The rapid expansion of rail lines by private companies vastly improved connectivity across the UK, facilitating the efficient movement of goods and labor.

Impact of Steam Ships

• Steam-powered shipping transformed trade logistics, allowing quicker transport across various markets and enhancing international commerce.

Impact of Industrialization

Exhibition of Progress

• The Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851 displayed British advancements in industry and innovation, including cutting-edge steam-powered machinery, symbolizing the nation's industrial achievements.

Global Influence

• By 1860, Britain produced 20% of the world's industrial goods, solidifying its status as the leading industrial power of the time. Population growth from 9 million to 21 million between 1750-1851 fueled this industrial development, creating a consumer base for manufactured goods.

Theoretical Perspectives

• Thomas Malthus: Proposed that population growth would inevitably outstrip food supply, resulting in famine and social upheaval.

• David Ricardo: Articulated the 'Iron Law of Wages,' positing that wages naturally settle at a subsistence level over time.

Alternative Economic Systems

Socialist Thought

• Opposition to capitalism emerged during this period, advocating for collective ownership of production means for the societal benefit rather than individual profit.

International Variations

Continental Industrial Growth

• Following the Napoleonic Wars, European nations began adopting British technologies at varying rates, leading to regional economic transformations. Countries like Belgium and Prussia utilized government support to stimulate industrialization, while Eastern European regions lagged behind.

Global Economic Implications

• Regions such as Egypt and China confronted economic challenges stemming from competition with industrialized nations, struggling to modernize.

• Latin America and similar regions became increasingly dependent, facing de-industrialization pressures as they struggled to compete on the world stage.

The Role of Slavery

• Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade was significant in developing financial structures that backed industrialists. Infrastructure investments, funded by slave trade profits, were essential for the transportation of raw materials and finished products between colonies and factories.