industrialization in europe november 9, 2009. industrial revolution? what are the characteristics of...
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Industrialization in Europe
November 9, 2009
Industrial Revolution?
What are the characteristics of a revolution? What is the difference between a revolution
and an evolution?
Pre-Industrialization Europe
Europe’s wealth was comparable to that of the rest of the world
~90% of Europeans lived in the countryside Artisans worked in small businesses, often
out of the home Products were crafted using hand tools -
entire process was done by one person Cottage Industries
The Big Question:
Did industrialization improve the lives of those affected?
Timeline of the Industrial Revolution Happened first in Britain, starting ~ 1790 1820 - France & Belgium 1850s – German States 1860s – U.S. (Civil War) 1870s – Canada, Italy, and Austria 1890s – Russia
What trends do you see?
Why now?
Steam engine Demographic revolution
The Steam Engine Move away from rivers James Watt – Greatly improved the machine. Became the form of power the drove
industrialization Powered by coal Development of
the railway
Demographic Revolution
At this time there was a massive change in demography. Prior to the 19th century, Europe had high birth and high death rates.
How did this change? Rapid population growth (England 1760 – 5.5 M,
1851 – 16.8 M) Rapid urbanization
Why did this change? Younger marriage, less celibacy, fewer still births
How did this affect men?
Men left farm work for wage work in the cities Conditions were awful, but opportunities were
seen to be better (Land issues) Some factory owners cared about the welfare
of their workers (Robert Owen) Men used to be trained directly and even
lived with employers
How did this affect women? Women were responsible for growing food on
farms for sustenance and garment cottage industries.
Move to the factories, became part of cotton mill production
Were heavily employed in textile and sewing mills
Expected to leave factory after marriage White slave trade Independence?
How did this affect children?
Were helpful operating small machine because of their smaller hands
14% of workers were under 14 years of age Discipline, maturity
Response to Industrialization
Workers were in close quarters and became aware of their collective power
Society (especially middle and upper class) saw the industrial revolution as corrupting women and children
Changing idea of the countryside
Worker Resistance
Unions illegal in England between 1799-1824; France between 1791-1848
Luddites – Northern Britain between 1811-1817. Government Response.
Mutual Aid & Friendly Societies – Only skilled workers could join