Social Changes During The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a time of great social change and upheaval. One of the greatest examples of this change can be seen in the day to day life of a British commoner. Never before in recorded history had so much rapid change happen in such a short period of time, and this change did not happen without retaliation. Britain's Industrial Revolution was the first to happen, and the rest of the world soon followed. This time of great economic growth creates a proletarian group of citizens that had not existed before. The super-wealthy and powerful stayed rich and powerful, and the downtrodden remained poor, but approximately 20% of the population emerged in a new middle class. These people benefited the most from industrialization, and included extremely wealthy bankers and mine owners, as well as respected scientists, businessmen, and doctors. These people had a sense of respectability, and took pride in the fact that they did not have to work manual labor to make a living.

The rise of industry created the fall of agriculture, as less people were now needed to do the same work. Advancements in farming techniques lead people elsewhere to find work, and many moved into the cities. This rapid urbanization created huge population growth in metropolitan areas, and the existing infrastructure was unequipped to handle it. Halfway through the 19th century, half of Britain’s population lived in urban areas. These places had poor water supplies, no public services to speak of (police, sanitation, etc.), and periodic disease