AMSCO 5.3, 5.4, 5.5-1

Industrial Revolution Overview

  • Definition: A dramatic change in society and economies during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

  • Key Influences:

    • Columbian Exchange.

    • Rise of maritime trading empires.

    • Increased agricultural productivity

    • Greater individual accumulation of capital.

  • Consequences:

    • Increase in world population.

    • Shift from rural to urban living.

    • Expansion in production and consumption of goods.

Agricultural Improvements

  • Agricultural Revolution (1700s):

    • Increased productivity through crop rotation and the seed drill.

    • Introduction of the potato boosted dietary calories.

    • Improved medical care led to lower infant mortality and longer life spans.

    • Resulted in more workers available for factories.

Preindustrial Societies

  • Early 18th Century Lifestyle:

    • Majority lived in rural areas, self-sufficient in food and clothing.

    • Traditional industries faced competition from Indian cotton imports.

  • Cottage Industry System:

    • Merchants provided raw cotton to women in their homes.

    • Provided some independence but was slow and labor-intensive.

Growth of Technology

  • Key Innovations:

    • Spinning jenny by James Hargreaves (1760s).

    • Water frame by Richard Arkwright (1769).

    • Shift from cottage industry to factory system.

  • Interchangeable Parts:

    • Introduced by Eli Whitney (1798), revolutionized manufacturing.

    • Led to division of labor, increasing efficiency in production.

Britain's Industrial Advantages

  • Geographical Factors:

    • Access to the Atlantic Ocean facilitated trade.

    • Abundance of coal essential for powering the steam engine.

  • Colonial Resources:

    • Access to raw materials and capital from colonies bolstered industrial growth.

  • Infrastructure:

    • Networks of rivers and canals eased transportation of goods.

    • Strong naval fleet enabled trade and defense.

  • Legal Protections:

    • Guarantees of private property encouraged entrepreneurial investment.

Growth and Urbanization

  • Population Shifts:

    • Enclosure movement forced rural workers into cities.

    • Increased workforce for factories, enhancing urban growth.

Spread of Industrialization

  • International Expansion:

    • Industrialization spread from Britain to Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan.

    • Each country possessed factors conducive to industrial growth (capital, resources).

Second Industrial Revolution

  • Key Developments:

    • Focus on steel, chemicals, precision machinery.

    • Introduction of electric power and communication technologies (e.g., telephone by Alexander Graham Bell).

  • Transportation Advances:

    • Railroads and steamships boosted resource access and distribution.

    • Transcontinental Railroad completed in 1869, facilitating U.S. industrial growth.

Global Trade and Migration

  • Connection of Regions:

    • Railroads and steamships linked producers and consumers globally.

    • Demand for resources increased, leading to expanded colonies for supply.