Industrial Revolution Dbq Essay

The Industrial Revolution completely reinvented society in the 1800s. This change would not have arisen though without the outcome of the Agricultural Revolution in which new farming methods created greater farm output that decreased death rates. One of these methods was the enclosure, the fencing off of land by rich landowners for more efficient cultivation of the fields. The enclosure movement pushed farmers off of their land, thus forcing them to move to the cities in search of work. Urbanization supplied the work force for the new factories that generated industrialization. While some might argue that Industrialization had primarily negative consequences for society because of a neglected quality of life, it was actually a positive shift

“(When) plants such as (the) textile factory appeared, soon the production of exports outpaced import of goods” (Document 3). Factories resulted in business owners receiving a greater profit because of an increase in trade due to goods being produced faster and sold cheaper. Therefore a cycle was set that benefitted consumers, workers, and business owners and contributed to the capital increase in the economy. Railroads also lead to economic growth, and “during the 1800s the amount of railroad track increased dramatically in Britain, the Continental Europe, and the United States” (Document 5). The railroad system was highly valued by business owners because it expanded the amount of customers they were able to deliver to, goods could be shipped faster, and the payload increased significantly. Henceforth trade became more efficient and faster paced in correspondence with the high productivity of the factories. “(Before the Industrial Revolution), one person doing all five required steps in manufacturing a product can make one unit, (but during the Industrial Revolution), five people, each specializing in one of the five steps, can make ten units in the same time” (Document 4). New methods in manufacturing increased productivity. Since products were manufactured faster, the output of the product increased as well as the economic prosperity. With the growth of the economy an

As stated by the publication in 1831, The Working Man’s Companion subtitled The Results of Machinery, Namely Cheap Production and Increased Employment, “You are surrounded… with an infinite number of comforts and conveniences which had no existence two or three centuries ago and those comforts are not used only by a few, but are within the reach of almost all men” (Document 9). Before the Industrial Revolution, humans were provided with only the simplest ways of life, but had advanced so much further with the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. Although life was difficult and unpleasant as the Industrial Revolution first commenced due to child labor and bad working conditions, unions eventually came into place to protect the workers and improve society to a greater degree. “(Before the Industrial Revolution), one person doing all five required steps in manufacturing a product can make one unit, (but during the Industrial Revolution), five people, each specializing in one of the five steps, can make ten units in the same time” (Document 4). First of all, because products were manufactured faster, prices were lowered and productivity increased. This larger output of goods benefitted the consumer by encouraging competition with more products and cheaper prices. “During the 1800s the amount of railroad tracks increased dramatically in Britain, the Continental Europe, and the