Industrial Revolution

In modern history, the Industrial Revolution was the transition from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing. These technological changes introduced a new way of working and living in a transformed society. The process of the industrial revolution began in Britain in the 18th century and from there it spread to the other parts of the world. 

The term “Industrial Revolution” was first familiarized by English economic historian Arnould Toynbee to describe the economic development of Britain from 1760-1840. Since then, the term has been more widely used as a process of economic transformation than as a period in a specific framework.

Industrialization Meaning

Industrialization is the process of transforming the agrarian economy into an economy that focuses more on the bulk production of goods and services. Generally, this is followed by mechanized production that enables businesses to produce more with less labour. For example, using coal in place of manpower to operate machines.

The process of industrialization generally involves significant social changes, which incorporate free labour markets in which workers have the authority to choose their employers. A fewer people working in farming as workers finding jobs in manufacturing often move from rural areas to cities. Industrialization also tends to enhance entrepreneurship, mobility, self-determination, and standards of living. 

It enhances productivity and fuels economic growth. Significant infrastructure changes also aim to follow industrialization, including the construction of roads and railroads. Historically, industrialization often creates large amounts of pollution and emission of carbon along with exploitative employment practices.

Industrial Revolution Definition

Industrial revolution definition states that it is an instant major social and economic transformation that occurred in Britain, Europe, and the U.S. in the late 18th and 19th century when new power, the new source of machinery, and new ways of product manufacturing were introduced.

Revolution Meaning

The word “revolution” means substantial change and is generally used to describe political events. The term ‘revolution” is also used to describe economic disruptions. In the Industrial Revolution, there is a substantial change from a society in which most people live on farms to one where most people live in towns or cities. 

For example, when George Washington was the President of America the vast majority of Americans spent their life tiling the soil and some 200 years later, less than 3% were farmers. 

The U.S. experienced an industrial revolution somewhere between the years 1800 and 2000. The industrial revolution in the U.S caused numerous changes in the ways people thought to earn their living, dress, travel, and spend their free time. It is quite difficult to find out in which year these changes occurred. 

Most historians believe that smaller changes occurred slowly during the 1790s, picked up during the year before the civil wars, and gathered speedily after the war. By 1920, the US completed its transformation from a nation of farmers to an industrialized society.

Characteristics of the Industrial Revolution

The main characteristics of the Industrial Revolution were social, technological, and economic. The technology changes during the industrial revolution include the following:

• Adoption of new materials primarily iron, and steel.

• Adoption of new energy resources which incorporate both fuels and motive power such as the steam engine, coal, electricity, petroleum, and coal power.

• The introduction of new machines such as the power loom and spinning jenny allowed to increase production even with a small amount of human energy.

• An important development in communication and transportation included the steam engine, radio, airplane, and telegraph.

• The increasing application of science to industry.

• A new work organization such as the factory system enhanced the use of machinery and division of labor in the manufacturing process.

These changes in technology tremendously increase the use of natural resources and productivity of manufactured goods. There were also modern developments in the non-industrial factors, which includes the following:

• Improvement in the agriculture process enables the provision of food for a larger nonagricultural production.

• Economics changes that resulted in a wider distribution of income.

• Political changes reflect the shift in economic power, as well as the introduction of new state policies according to the needs of an industrialized society.

• Embracing social changes including the growth of the cities, enhancement of working-class movements, and introduction of new patterns of authority.

• Culture transformation to a great extent. Workers developed modern and extraordinary skills and their business changed, rather than being craftsmen working with hand tools, they became machine operators, based on the rules of the factory.

• Finally, the Physiological changes enhance the ability to use natural resources. 

What was the Positive Impact of the Industrial Revolution?

There were several positive impacts of the Industrial revolution. Among those was an increase in wealth, increase in the production of goods, and the standard of living. People had wide access to healthier diets, cheaper goods, and better housing facilities. Also, the enhancement of the education sector during the Industrial Revolution. 

Edward Jenner’s invention of the smallpox vaccine and Louis Pasteur’s discovery of bacteria increased the health care facilities. As a result, people start living longer lives. The middle and upper classes benefited rapidly from the Industrial Revolution. For workers, it took much longer to gain benefits. However, workers formed labor unions during the 1800s and enjoyed higher wages and better working conditions. As a result, they began to observe the benefits of the Industrial Revolution widely. 

Consequence of Industrial Revolution

During the Industrial Revolution,  there were massive social, economic, and political changes, such as enhancement in agriculture and transportation, expansion of international trade, massive production of goods, employment expansion, creation of earning source for income for both women and children, improvement in living standard, increase collection of information, motivation of nationalism and imperialism, development of capitalism, democracy, and socialism, and destruction of the environment. 

Industrial Revolution in England

England is the first country in which industrial related production has been announced. In England, the Industrial Revolution began in the late 18th century and at the beginning of the 19th century. Since then, there were enormous socio-economic changes in England which are collectively known as the Industrial Revolution in England. It is called the First Industrial Revolution in England or simply Industrial Revolution.  

The Industrial Revolution in England was the procedure of transformation from human and animal labor technology into machinery, new chemical manufacturing, iron production process, the improved efficiency of water power, the development of machine tools, and the increasing use of steam power. The iron and textile industry played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution in England. 

Did You Know?

Till now four industrial revolutions occurred which are given below:

• 1st Industrial Revolution - Use of Coal

• 2nd Industrial Revolution - Use of Gas

• 3rd Industrial Revolution - Use of Electronics & Nuclear

• 4th Industrial Revolution - Use of internet & Renewable energy

Conclusion

Thus, in this article we have covered about the Industrial Revolution in detail. It began in the eighteenth century and marked a significant change in the social as well as economic aspects of not only England but also other parts of the world. It helped in shifting from subsistence economy to commercial economy and helped in increasing the world. It inspires other nations to develop industrial activities. In today's world, the fourth Industrial Revolution is going on and it has become a crucial part of any country's strategies if it wants to become a developed nation.