The Industrial Revolution: Transforming Society

 

Industrial Revolution was a technologic, economist and social process started at the end of 18th century in Great Britain and rapidly spread throughout Europe and in several other countries of the world. 

It signified the shift from agricultural base in which goods were made by hand to industrial base in which goods were produced mechanically in factories. 

This change impacted various sectors of society in assuring that the contemporary world took shape it has now.

Technological Advancements:

#1 Mechanization and Inventions: 

More advanced technology like the spinning jenny, the power loom as well as the steam engine transformed industries like textile and manufacturing. 

These innovation brought efficiency in a way that more goods could be produced and in a cheaper way to boot.

#2 Steam Power: 

By the later half of the eighteen century people like James Watt developed the steam engine that offered a steady supply of power to factories, mines, and transport. 

It was useful in the expansion of sectors which were not associated with textile production like coal mining and metallurgy.

#3 Transportation Revolution: 

Some of the measures of transport advances that amplified the transport of goods and people include; the steam locomotive and the steamship. 

So railways and canals promoted trade, new markets and brought down prices.

Economic Impact:

#1 Urbanization: 

Industrialization required factory hands hence pulled people from villages towards towns. 

Therefore, there was an increase in the growth of cities and development of new towns which turned into urban towns. 

This new change led to formation of new social classes most especially the industrial workers.

#2 Rise of Capitalism: 

The Industrial Revolution was accompanied by such concepts as capital, which became a dominant form of the economy after this revolution. 

By the concentration of capital it was possible to expand industrial production and create the basis for today’s economic structures.

#3 Global Trade and Imperialism: 

To obtain raw materials and find new markets, trade was keenly promoted and imperialism became inevitable. 

European colonies sought to gain raw materials and therefore gained access to other regions in the deal but also exploited the colonies.

Social Changes:

#1 Labor Conditions: 

Factory jobs were nearly always hazardous and repetitive along with strenuous working conditions and low pay. 

Exploitation of child labor and poor working conditions caused reforms seeking rights, safety and fair treatment of workers and labor.

#2 Class Structure: 

With the appearance of the industrial working class and the growth of middle class, including managers and professionals, as well as entrepreneurs, the social relations and people’s distribution by ranks changed. 

The decline of its power is observed by the fact that the concentration of capital scaled in favor of industrial magnates and the aristocratic layer.

#3 Education and Literacy: 

Some of the factors that led to the spread of school education institutions include Demand for human capital esp. 

skillful labor force together with a Literate work force was required. Employment standards rose, illiteracy decreased and the population was given a higher probability for social mobility.

Environmental Impact:

#1 Pollution and Deforestation: 

It is noted that effects of Industrial Revolution affected the environment mainly, causing air and water pollution of factories, deforestation for fuel and materials. 

Adult literacy and communications A Meanwhile, the burning of coal for purposes of energy caused the smog on the cities and established the root of modern environmental problems.

#2 Industrial Agriculture: 

Through mechanization and the use of chemical fertilizer there was increase in the yield, so farming was enhanced. 

But at the same positive results these developments also brought negative impacts like decrease in the level of biodiversity and soils.

The cultural and intellectual changes:

#1 Scientific Advancements: 

It was a progressive period for a science and technology which contributed to areas of chemistry, biology and engineering. 

This paved way to further advancement on medicine and industry as well.

#2 Philosophical and Political Movements: 

This led to the rise of a number of impressive and progressive social and economical transformations that shaped both the growth of various spheres of human activity and invoking of new types of intellectual The occurrence of socialism as one of the intellectual movements that was established as the answer to industrialization are the evidence to the fact. 

The main political and economic opponents of capitalism and promoters of working people in the past were Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

The Industrial Revolution was a multifaceted era and which impacted almost all spheres in society. 

Although it provided a platform for economic development and a way through which to advance in technology, it involved corresponding social and environmental issues that are being experienced in the contemporary world.