Industrial Revolution

By JAMES CHEN

Reviewed By JULIUS MANSA

Updated Feb 25, 2021

What Is Industrialization?

Industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed from a

primarily agricultural one to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Individual

manual labor is often replaced by mechanized mass production, and craftsmen are

replaced by assembly lines. Characteristics of industrialization include economic

growth, the more efficient division of labor, and the use of technological innovation

to solve problems as opposed to dependency on conditions outside of human control.

Industrialization is most commonly associated with the European Industrial

Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Industrialization also

occurred in the United States between the 1880s and the Great Depression. The

onset of the Second World War also led to a great deal of industrialization, which

resulted in the growth and development of large urban centers and suburbs.

Industrialization is an outgrowth of capitalism, and its effects on society are

still undetermined to some extent; however, it has resulted in a lower birth rate

and a higher average income.

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution traces its roots to the late 18th century in Britain. Prior

to the proliferation of industrial manufacturing facilities, fabrication and

processing were generally carried out by hand in people's homes. The steam engine

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was a key invention, as it allowed for many different types of machinery. The

growth of the metals and textiles industries allowed for the mass production of

basic personal and commercial goods. As manufacturing activities grew,

transportation, finance, and communications industries expanded to support the

new production capacities.

The Industrial Revolution led to unprecedented expansion in wealth and financial

well-being for some. It also led to increased labor specialization and allowed cities

to support larger populations, motivating a rapid demographic shift. People left

rural areas in large numbers, seeking potential fortunes in budding industries. The

revolution quickly spread beyond Britain, with manufacturing centers being

established in continental Europe and the United States.

World War II created an unprecedented demand for certain manufactured goods,

leading to a buildup of productive capacity. After the war, reconstruction in Europe

occurred alongside a massive population expansion in North America. This provided

further catalysts that kept capacity utilization high and stimulated further growth

of industrial activity. Innovation, specialization, and wealth creation were the

causes and effects of industrialization in this period.

The late 20th century was noteworthy for rapid industrialization in other parts of

the world, notably East Asia. The Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan,

and Singapore) are well known for the economic growth that altered their

countries/districts. China famously experienced its own industrial revolution after

moving toward a more mixed economy and away from heavy central planning.

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Modes of Industrialization

Different strategies and methods of industrialization have been followed at

different times and places with varying degrees of success.

The Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States initially took place under

generally mercantilist and protectionist government policies that fostered the

early growth of industry but was later associated with a more laissez-

faire or free-market approach that opened markets to foreign trade as an outlet

for industrial output.

In the post Second World War era, developing nations across Latin America and

Africa adopted a strategy of import-substituting industrialization, which involved

protectionist barriers to trade coupled with direct subsidization or nationalization

of domestic industries.

Nearly at the same time, parts of Europe and several East Asian economies

pursued an alternative strategy of export-led growth. This strategy emphasized

the deliberate pursuit of foreign trade to build exporting industries, and partly

depended on maintaining a weak currency to make exports more attractive to

foreign buyers. In general, export-led growth has outperformed import-

substituting industrialization.

Lastly, socialist nations of the 20th century repeatedly embarked on various

deliberate, centrally planned programs of industrialization almost entirely

independent of either domestic or foreign trade markets. These include the first

and second five-year plans in the Soviet Union and the Great Leap Forward in

China.

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While these efforts did re-orient the respective economies toward a more

industrial base and an increase in output of industrial commodities, they were also

accompanied by harsh government repression, deteriorating living and working

conditions for workers, and even widespread starvation.

Understanding the Industrial Revolution

Although the Industrial Revolution occurred approximately 200 years ago, it is a

period that left a profound impact on how people lived and the way businesses

operated. Arguably, the factory systems developed during the Industrial

Revolution are responsible for the creation of capitalism and the modern cities of

today.

Before the revolution, most Americans made their living farming and lived in

widespread rural communities. With the advance of factories, people began working

for companies located in urban areas for the first time. Often the wages were low

and conditions were harsh. However, working for businesses paid a better living

than farming.

Production efficiency improved during the Industrial Revolution with inventions

such as the steam engine. The steam engine dramatically reduced the time it took

to manufacture products. More efficient production subsequently reduced prices

for products; primarily due to lower labor costs, opening the marketing doors to a

new level of customers.

The United States government helped businesses by instituting tariffs—taxes on

foreign goods—so that products like steel made by U.S. companies were cheaper

than foreign imports. Cheaper steel prices encouraged the development

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of infrastructure such as railroads and bridges during the American Industrial

Revolution.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Industrial Revolution

Advantages

The Industrial Revolution created an increase in employment

opportunities. Wages at factories were higher than what individuals were making as

farmers. As factories became widespread, additional managers and employees were

required to operate them, increasing the supply of jobs and overall wages.

Since most of the factories and large companies were located near the cities,

populations migrated to urban areas in search of jobs, often overwhelming the

available housing supply. This led to significant improvements in city planning.

Increased innovation also led to higher levels of motivation and education that

resulted in several ground-breaking inventions that are still used today. These

inventions include the sewing machine, X-ray, lightbulb, calculator, and anesthesia.

Due to the Industrial Revolution's advancements, the nation saw the first

combustible engine, the first incandescent light bulb, and the first modern

assembly line used in manufacturing.

The Industrial Revolution changed how people worked, the technologies available to

them, and often where they lived. It made life comfortable for many though living

conditions for workers remained abhorrent, which eventually fueled the rise

of labor unions that led to improved working conditions and fair wages.

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Disadvantages

Although there were numerous advancements during the Industrial Revolution, the

rapid progress caused many issues. As workers left their farms to work in

factories for higher wages, it led to a shortage of food being produced.

The sharp increase in the number of factories led to an increase in urban pollution.

Pollution wasn't contained only to the factories; as people flocked to the cities, the

living conditions became deplorable as the urban resources were overwhelmed.

Sewage flowed in the streets in some cities while manufacturers dumped waste

from factories into rivers. Water supplies were not tested and protected as they

are today. As a result, regulations and laws were enacted to protect the population.

The Industrial Revolution provided an incentive to increase profits, and as a result,

working conditions in factories deteriorated. Long hours, inadequate remuneration,

and minimal breaks became the norm. Child labor was a major issue. Health issues

arose for many of the factory workers giving rise to the labor movement

throughout the U.S.

Industrial Revolution FAQs

1. How the Industrial Revolution is best defined?

The Industrial Revolution was a shift from an agrarian economy to a manufacturing

economy where products were no longer made solely by hand but by machines. This

led to increased production and efficiency, lower prices, more goods, improved

wages, and migration from rural areas to urban areas.

2. What was the Industrial Revolution (short answer)?

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The first Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the mid-to-late 1700s

when innovation led to goods being produced in large quantities due to machine

manufacturing. This spread around the globe and the Second Industrial Revolution

began in the U.S. in the late 1800s that saw further advancements in technology

that led to greater efficiency.

3. When did the Industrial Revolution start?

The first Industrial Revolution began in the second half of the 18th century while

the Second Industrial Revolution began in the late 19th century.1

4. What 3 things played a role in the Industrial Revolution?

Technological changes, such as the use of iron and steel, and new energy sources

such as coal and steam, and the factory system, which led to a division of labor and

specialization, which increased efficiency.

5. What were the 3 most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution?

The three most important inventions of the first Industrial Revolution include the

steam engine, the spinning jenny, and the telegraph. The three most important

inventions of the Second Industrial Revolution include the combustible engine,

electricity, and the light bulb.

Summary

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  The first industrial revolution began in Great Britain in the 1700s and 1800s

and was a time of significant innovation.

 The American Industrial Revolution, commonly referred to as the Second

Industrial Revolution, started sometime between 1820 and 1870.

 Both Industrial Revolutions led to inventions that included the telephone,

the steam engine, the sewing machine, the X-ray, the lightbulb, and the

combustible engine.

 Working for businesses during the Industrial Revolution paid better wages

than agricultural work.

 The increase in the number of factories and migration to the cities led to

pollution, deplorable working and living conditions, as well as child labor.

 Due to the innovation witnessed during the period, production efficiency

improved dramatically for businesses, leading to higher profits.

Some advantages

 Advancements in production

 Growth in innovations and inventions

 Workers earned higher wages

 Improvements in transportation networks

Some disadvantages

 Deplorable working conditions and child labor

 Unsanitary living conditions and pollution

 Food shortages