Industrial Revolution

The two most significant social consequences to the First Industrial Revolution of 1780-1850, was the impact on urbanization and the working class. The Industrial Revolution began in England in the 18th century. It was a time of pronounced transformation to the manner in which people existed and functioned in the world. The inventions of machines provided the ability to have dramatic growths on mass manufacturing in textile and coal mining, iron and steel making. It led to large factories and mills that were built to house machines and employed workers, which lead to increased production and wealth for industrialists worldwide. However, it also had negative consequences, particularly farmers and smaller businesses, which was often slower manual labor that produced and supplied goods in smaller quantities. With the innovations and the building of factories, people moved into urban areas to find jobs. People were often subjected to cramp overcrowded housing, modest wages, and dangerous working conditions. The social distinctions became increasingly apparent as the rich thrived, the middle class increased, but larger population of poor mainly stayed poor. With the

Before the Industrial Revolution of 1780, the majority of people lived in rural areas, relying on their own labors of the land for the supply of food and shelter. Many people could profit from weaving, wool, cotton, and flax into cloth or linen with the use of the Spinning wheel. However, it was a slow and labor-intensive process. The invention of the Spinning Jenny by James Hargreaves in 1767 (Abhinav, 2012) and then the Water Frame Machine by R. Arkwright in 1769 (Jain, 8-1-2013) brought the ability to have a significant increase in textile production, by doin...

... middle of paper ...

...al Revolution. (2014). Retrieved January 2, 2014, from http://www.history.com/ajax/cite.jsp?title=Industrial%20Revolution&path=/topics/industrial-revolution

Jain, P. (8-1-2013). 8-1-2013. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/637067/water-frame

The Communist Manifesto - Bourgeoisie and Proletariat. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/21cc/utopia/methods1/bourgeoisie1/bourgeoisie.html

The Industrial Revolution and the changingface of Britain. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/online_research_catalogues/paper_money/paper_money_of_england__wales/the_industrial_revolution/the_industrial_revolution_3.aspx

What is Capitalism? [Magazine]. (2013). Socialist Standard , 1302. Retrieved from http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard/2010s/2013/no-1302-february-2013/what-capitalism