Industrial Revolution Dbq

The Industrial Revolution occurred around 1760 to 1830 and was a period when manufacturing by hand transitioned into mechanization and new ideas transformed the world. The revolution began in the United Kingdom, due to the fact that the country was politically stable, had recently undergone an agricultural revolution, and had access to important resources such as iron, steel, and coal ("Industrial Revolution"). Due to the exploding English population, more people were seeking jobs, which allowed new industries to thrive. Britain also had a more advanced banking system than France and fewer regulations than competing nations, which provided the English with economic advantages. During this time, many countries, in particular, France and Japan,

Business in 18th century England had labor divided into distinct tasks, such as industrial fields (mainly women), operating machines that would make clothes, glass, pottery, and more (Betts). The factory owners set strict rules for when and how the laborers would work. This was a new adjustment for people, as this increase in specialization forced men, women, and children to work in factories due to the demand for labor. The factory system had many advantages that included lower costs, larger production, and stable jobs (Carter and Wilkinson). There were many opportunities that increased employment and the population, which improved the efficiency of work. However, working in a factory usually meant harsh and unsafe conditions, a low pay rate, and long working hours (Carter and Wilkinson). The workers were also forced to live in crowded conditions, and often had poor housing and low sanitation (Betts). With this in mind, there was an increase in deaths not only from the disease, and many were killed or injured due to harsh conditions. Their work was more strictly monitored, and people had to work long hours, their time was managed by the factory owner, and was harmful to their health (Betts). As a result of employment, there was an increased demand for laborers, specifically children. This benefited the industries by making payment cheaper, more manageable, and

At first, the telephone was used only by the wealthy, but by the mid-20th century, it was a common household object utilized by people around the world (Duignan and Rafferty). This new device was created to improve and create a more accessible way to interact with people from a distance. The economy was developing quickly and became vigorous due to the fast production in factories ("The Social Impact of the Industrial Revolution"). The productivity rates in England grew by 130% in 1850 compared to 1500, which increased the demand for labor and efficiency in factories (Heckman and Leamer). While the Industrial Revolution had many benefits for the economy, there were also negative effects, such as the fact that the new factories caused an increase of soil and air pollution (Kiger). This caused many deaths and respiratory illnesses in certain areas that burned a lot of coal. Also, not all people were open to the new technological advantages, and some revolted against industrialization. For example, there was a public outcry from a group of people known as the Luddites who were opposed to new advancements in technology due to the threat to their textile jobs and the danger of making their jobs obsolete. (Cartwright et al.) These positive and negative outcomes of industrialization have built a community that is developing for the evolving