Winter Break Homework

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Recommended: The effects of the transcontinental railroad

Brian Yao P3 Henehan AP European History 6 January 2014 Winter Break Homework Packet Questions: 1. There was a relatively simple connection between the steam engine, the coal mines, and the railroad. The steam engine required the coal obtained from the coal mines to function, and the railroad allowed the coal to be transported from place to place infinitely easier than before. 2. The railroad had a number of impacts on the factory system, the rural workers, and the outlook and values of society alike. Firstly, in accordance with many other industrial developments made in that time period, the railroad made the factory system much more efficient by delivering materials faster. However, there was a negative effect on the rural workers that depended on vast spaces on land for their livelihood. Building the railroads took up a lot of spaces that could’ve been used for farming. As for the overall effect on values and outlook, the increased efficiency was clearly a luxury that was not available before. The increased luxury and speed at which people were able to obtain valuables ultimately allowed people to look towards and value new and better things, including how important transportation is. 3. Watt was an extremely intelligent engineer who made a multitude of changes to help improve the steam engine. As a side note, Watt also invented the term “horsepower”, which didn’t directly affect the efficiency of the steam engine, but allowed people to better measure the power of all devices. He found new and innovative ways to make the piston hotter as well as make the engine significantly faster by having the steam of the engine come from multiple directions. 4. The Zollverein and the Credit Mobilier had very similar purposes. Again, mu... ... middle of paper ... ...factories was around 8 or 9 years old. In other words, they were still very young adolescents that didn’t belong in such a crude environment. It was not uncommon for children to begin their work before sunrise (around 5 in the morning) to late at night, and this wasn’t even factoring in how they had to get up extra early in order to actually get to the factory. 2. From the employers’ point of view, employing children not only gave them more manpower, but also gave them workers that weren’t as used to older styles of manufacturing items. Meanwhile, the parents only sent their children to such facilities because they were in need of money and wages were low. 3. They were subject to cruel beatings using tools like sticks or leather straps. They were beaten to the point of excruciating pain such that they would remain obedient and would remain alert at their tasks.

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