THE Industrial Revolution PDF

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In England, the Industrial Revolution began around 1760 A.D. It resulted in significant changes in people's social and economic lives, first in England, then in other European countries, and finally on other continents. The discovery of new territories, explorations, the growth of trade and commerce...

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THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION In England, the Industrial Revolution began around 1760 A.D. It resulted in significant changes in people's social and economic lives, first in England, then in other European countries, and finally on other continents. The discovery of new territories, explorations, the growth of trade and commerce, and the subsequent growth of towns all contributed to an increase in demand for goods in Europe, particularly England. Previously, goods (i.e., consumer items like cloth, etc.) were manufactured domestically. This indicates that a domestic production system existed. Goods were to be mass-produced in response to increased demand.

New Invention During the Industrial Revolution, new tools and techniques were developed that could mass-produce goods. A series of inventions in tools, techniques, and production organisation occurred between 1760 and 1830 A.D., resulting in the factory system of production. As a result, the economy shifted from a feudal to a capitalist system of production. Following that, a class of capitalists emerged to control the new production system. This revolution ushered in a new era of machine-made goods, ushering in a transition from the old age of hand-made goods to the new age of machine-made goods. This change signalled the start of the Industrial Revolution.

The Spinning Jenny, invented in 1767 by James Hargreaves, an English weaver, was one of the significant mechanical inventions that led to a faster and better method of production in various industries. It was a rectangular machine with a simple design. It was made up of a series of spindles that could all be turned by a single wheel. In 1769, Arkwright, an English barber, invented a new tool called Arkwright's Water Fame, which was named after its inventor. This Water Frame was so large that it couldn't be kept in a home and had to be set up in a special building. As a result, it is claimed that he was the one who introduced the factory system. Samuel Crompton invented "the

Mule" in 1779 in England. There were several other inventions that all contributed to European society's industrialization.

Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society

With the shift in society's economy came a slew of social changes. The development of banks, insurance companies, and finance corporations occurred as capitalism became more complex. There arose a new class of industrial workers, managers, and capitalists.

Peasants in the new industrial society found themselves winding cotton in a textile mill alongside thousands of other people just like them. Instead of the famous countryside, they were forced to live in filthy conditions. With the rise in production, the population began to rise. As the population grew, so did the rate of urbanisation. The industrial cities grew at a breakneck pace. Socioeconomic disparities were extreme in industrial cities. Factory workers were subjected to monotonous and boring work that they were unable to enjoy as a result. The worker, in Marxist terms, became alienated from the product of his or her labour. In the industrial society, city life took on a completely new meaning.

Both conservative and radical thinkers were influenced by these changes. Conservatives were concerned that such circumstances would result in chaos and disorder. Radicals like Engels believed that factory workers would be the catalyst for social change.

Though their assessments of values differed, social thinkers of the time agreed on the Industrial Revolution's epochal impact. They also agreed that the new working class was crucial. From 1811 to 1850, the history of the United States shows that this class became increasingly agitated for their rights.

Significant Themes of the Industrial Revolution

The following are the major themes of the Industrial Revolution that concerned early sociologists. I The working conditions: A new population arose to support themselves by working in the factories. This working class lived in poverty and squalor in the beginning. They were isolated from the rest of society. At the same time, they were critical to the new industrial system's success. As a result, they became a powerful social force. The poverty of this group of workers, according to sociologists, is not natural poverty, but rather social poverty. As a result, the working class became a moral and analytical concern in the nineteenth century.

ii) Property transformation: During the Industrial Revolution, the traditional emphasis on land lost its value, while money or capital became more important. The value of investing in a new industrial system became apparent. The feudal landlords lost influence as the new capitalists rose to power. Many of the new capitalists were former landowners.

Property was also a major topic of discussion during the French Revolution. It has a significant impact on the social order. Economic privileges, social status, and political power are all linked to property. A shift in the property system entails a shift in society's fundamental character. Since the days of Marx, Tocqueville, Taine, and Weber, sociologists have debated the issue of property and its impact on social stratification.

iii) The industrial city, i.e. urbanism: The Industrial Revolution necessitated urbanisation. With the growth of industries came the growth of large clusters of people, the modern towns and cities. Cities existed in the ancient world as well, such as Rome, Athens, and so on, but new cities, such as Manchester in England, which is

known for its textiles, were of a different nature. New cities were known as repositories of misery and inhumanity, while ancient cities were known as repositories of civilised graces and virtues. The early sociologists were concerned about these aspects of the new cities.

iv) Technology and the Factory System: In the nineteenth century, technology and the factory system were the subject of numerous writings. Both conservative and radical thinkers recognised that the two systems would have a long-term impact on human life. People migrated in large numbers to cities as a result of the impact of technology and the factory system. In the factories, women and children began to work. The dynamics of the family have shifted. The factory's siren seemed to control people's lives. Work seemed to be dominated by machines rather than people. As previously stated, the relationship between labourers and the products of their labour evolved. They had to work for a living. Everyone's child, and especially the machine's, was the product. It was owned by the factory's owner. Life and work had become detached from the individual. The machine, according to Marx, is a form of enslavement and a manifestation of labour alienation. Due to the industrial system of production, social scientists believed that men and women had become mechanical in heart and hand....