Capitalism During The Industrial Revolution

Capitalism played a pivotal role in the rise of technological innovation, adaptation of labor practices, and redistribution of wealth during the Industrial Revolution. Still, it did not stand alone in the emergence of the modern Western world. The Enlightenment brought with it an increasing emphasis on education and a call for women’s rights, which contributed just as profoundly to the social atmosphere now experienced. While the emergence of capitalism set the stage for the modern Western economy, early attempts at equality and the expansion of an educational environment were foundational to society as we know it. The rise of capitalism in the West and throughout the world was encouraged by the increasing technological advancements made

The family one was born into began to matter less, while their financial standing became most important as money signified power. Even greater, education was said to be a huge contributor to an individual’s ability for upward mobility, as it allowed for greater career exploration and a deepening of career possibilities. The emphasis on education came during the Enlightenment, where individuals like Voltaire discussed the power of furthering knowledge and the strengths one may possess with an education in his retelling of a conversation with the Huron. He stated that a pursuit of knowledge facilitated his existence as a man transformed from a lesser being, exploring the true power an education holds. As explained by Carol and Symes, “the Enlightenment represented a declaration of intellectual independence” where individuals were encouraged to think freely and critically about the world around them. They continue even further to explore the human developmental philosophy of Tabula Rusa, a theory formed by Locke where children are born as blank slates and can be shaped into anyone. This theory informed the Enlightment ideas that came after because if children are blank slates, “Education, then, was essential to the creation of a good and moral individual.” Higher

Thinkers like Comte claimed that “women were unsuited for higher education because their brains were smaller or because their bodies were fragile,” the notion previously held to rationalize discriminating on the basis of sex. Fortunately, activists like Mary Woolstonecraft and Olympe de Gouges paved the way for the beginnings of womens’ rights. Woolstonecraft expressed the sentiment that men expected women to look to them for comfort and direction, believing women to be incapable of conducting their own lives. However, she cites this as precisely why education rights for women were so important, not to overtake men in the world, but to obtain independence and own control over their own lives and circumstances. Educational freedom is explored as a necessity here should men continue to hold women to the same moral standards as men. In addition, Olyme de Gouges writes a response to the Declaration of the Rights of Man in which she includes women in all of the rights attributed to men. The wording and structure is nearly identical, showing the parallels and equality women strive for, setting the foundation for basic human rights. De Gouges and Woolstonecraft were some of the first to crack open the window for women’s rights, ultimately leading to the fight for women’s right to vote,