Short Essay on \'Considering at least two reasons behind the Industrial Revolution, what was the most important driver of industrialisation?\' PDF

Preview

Summary

Short Essay on 'Considering at least two reasons behind the Industrial Revolution, what was the most important driver of industrialisation?' Recieved 71/100...

Description

Considering at least two reasons behind the Industrial Revolution, what was the most important driver of industrialisation?

Massive growths in population along with a continuing surge in technological developing lead to the rise of the industrial revolution seen begin in 18th Century Britain. However, it would be the incredibly fast-growing increases in the demand for goods and services that would drive the industrialisation of the 18th, 19th and 20th Century. The resulting growths in population within Britain can be accommodated to an improvement in farming techniques while the increases in the speeds of communication resulted from the introduction of new technologies. The economic concept of demand singlehandedly drove industrialisation as access to cheap goods increased through trade while entrepreneurs and business people found profits in mass production, accommodating to the demand of a larger, smarter and wealthier population.

The levels of demand that drove the industrialisation of the 18th and 19th century in addition to contemporary development is a primary result of increases in population and technological developments in production and communication. Due to the nature of collective learning, as agricultural and farming techniques improved over Britain, as did the carrying capacity of the population increase from an estimated 6 million to 8 million1. This combined with faster communicative and production technologies allowed for an increase in the number of potential innovators and the speed of their innovation.

Respectively to the increases in population, “demand for goods increased, meaning merchants needed more cost-effective methods of production”2. As such, textile machines, steam engines and improve iron processing was developed, allowing for demand to be met. Further farming techniques would be developed, sky rocketing the population in addition to demand in a simultaneous action. Evidently, demand would drive the industrialisation of Britain and eventually the rest of the world.

By 1750 the British produced many goods at a cheap cost due to new industrial machines. This compounded levels of demand, as famous economist Jean-Baptiste Say found whereby the supply of goods would create its own demand3. Further developments in transportation allowed for a wider market to be reached by producers, increasing demand again. As the steamboat and steam powered locomotive came into being in the early 19th century, the speed of innovation further rose, allowing for faster production and industrial development. 1 Baker, The Two Great Divergences of Collective Learning (Macquarie University, 2018) 2 History.com Staff, Industrial Revolution (A and E History, 2009) 3 Roads, Say’s Law (The Economist, 2017)

In 1776 anointed ‘Father of Economics’ Adam Smith noted that “demand should drive the economy of a country”4. This is evident in Britain’s rapid industrialisation.

As the population and general technological level of 18th Century Britain increased, as did the average consumers level of demand, creating a snowball effect of an increasing population, increasing levels of demand, increasing the need for innovation, increasing the population further, allowing for more demand and so on. “Demand Elements were crucial in determining the timing, location, and general characteristics of the Industrial Revolution5.” As such, the increase in the economic concept of demand can be attributed to being the driving force behind industrialisation.

Bibliography Baker, David, director. The Two Great Divergences of Collective Learning. YouTube, YouTube, 17 May 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuICjIRtwtE&feature=youtu.be. Hartwell, R. M. The Causes of the Industrial Revolution in England. Routledge, 2017, books.google.com.au/books? hl=en&lr=&id=ozgkDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT7&dq=causes+of+the+industrial+revolution& ots=EK0zHg0LJZ&sig=LuPIwuulzH0HoXjqg33qrNJJGYk#v=onepage&q=causes%20of%20the %20industrial%20revolution&f=false. James, Thomas. “Causes of the Industrial Revolution.” History Crunch - History Resource, History Crunch, 2018, www.historycrunch.com/causes-of-the-industrial-revolution.html. History.com Staff. “Industrial Revolution.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/industrial-revolution. Moykr, Joel. “Demand vs. Supply in the Industrial Revolution.” Demand vs. Supply in the Industrial Revolution, Dec. 1977, pp. 981–1008. Cambridge University Press, www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-economic-history/article/demand-vs-supplyin-the-industrial-revolution/0171282E5C0854C750BA920A54B3ED34. Roads, Jeffry “Say's Law: Supply Creates Its Own Demand.” The Economist, The Economist Newspaper, 10 Aug. 2017, www.economist.com/economics-brief/2017/08/10/says-lawsupply-creates-its-own-demand. “Steam Power during the Industrial Revolution.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 May 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_power_during_the_Industrial_Revolution.

4 James, Causes of the Industrial Revolution (History Crunch, 2018) 5 Hartwell, The Causes of the Industrial Revolution in England (Routledge, 2017)

Self-Assessment

Fail

Pass

Credit Distinction

Evidence

X

Argument Organisation

X X

Knowledge Expression

HD

X X

Creativity Self-assessment

X

Add some general comments: 

How, if at all, has your understanding of the topic has changed as a result of doing this essay?

My understanding on the basis of the causes of the industrial revolution has most likely remained the same. However, in saying that, I never attributed how large of an impact demand would have upon starting my essay. I would say my knowledge of the driving forces behind industrialisation has greatly increased. 

What things you have done well?

I am very pleased with my argument, as well as the knowledge I displayed. I feel as this is my best essay so far. The argument remains constant and is pushed strongly, while my knowledge used resonates with my argument. 

What skills and ideas do you wish to develop further?

Again, I feel as if my organisation and essay structure still need work. I feel as if at times the essay may be a bit confusing or organised in an odd way. My expressional skills sometimes lack as well, I can get lost in over analysis, where as I need simplification. 

What strategies might you use to develop these skills?

I should slow down and take more time with my writing. While simplifying my ideas and form of expression would also be useful. Writing more essays and practice will help with this....