The Industrial Revolution was a period of major mechanization and innovation that began in Great Britain during the mid-18th century and early 19th century and later spread throughout much of the world. The British Industrial Revolution was dominated by the exploitation of coal and iron. The American Industrial Revolution, sometimes referred to as the Second Industrial Revolution, began during the Gilded Age in the 1870s and continued through World War II. The era saw the mechanization of agriculture and manufacturing and the introduction of new modes of transportation including steamships, the automobile, and airplanes.
Key Takeaways
- The first Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the 1700s and 1800s and was a time of significant innovation.
- The American Industrial Revolution followed in the late 19th century and spurred economic growth in the U.S.
- The Industrial Revolution led to inventions such as the assembly line, telegraph, steam engine, sewing machine, and internal combustion engine.
- Factories offered better wages than agricultural work.
- The growth of factories and cities led to pollution, harsh working and living conditions, and child labor.
How Did the Industrial Revolution Impact Society?
Although it occurred approximately 200 years ago, the Industrial Revolution left a profound impact on how people lived and how businesses operated. Factory systems developed during this period are credited with paving the way for capitalism and modern cities. Prior to this transformative era, most households thrived on agriculture, living primarily in small, rural communities. However, the advent of factories during the 18th century brought people to urban areas, offering employment that often paid better than farming, yet with harsh working conditions.
Increased Production Efficiency and Market Expansion
Production efficiency surged with groundbreaking inventions like the steam engine, which slashed manufacturing times and reduced product prices, driven primarily by lower labor costs. This opened new marketing doors, making goods more accessible to a broader range of customers.
Rise of Capitalism
Capitalism grew alongside the Industrial Revolution. Business owners centralized labor in factories, implementing divisions of labor to boost output and profitability. Unlike the traditional craft and guild systems, capitalist production during this era incentivized technological change and innovation at an unprecedented rate. The coal industry played a significant role, as coal provided three times the energy compared to wood, facilitating these advancements.
Effects of the Industrial Revolution on Tariffs
During the American Industrial Revolution, the U.S. government implemented tariffs—taxes on foreign imports—to make domestic products like steel cheaper than foreign imports. This protectionist policy significantly contributed to the development of infrastructure, such as railroads and bridges.
Advantages of Industrialization
The Industrial Revolution spurred numerous positive changes:
- Increased employment opportunities with higher wages compared to farming.
- Development of urban areas, leading to improved city planning.
- Advancements in technology and innovation, resulting in many enduring inventions, such as the sewing machine, X-ray, lightbulb, calculator, and anesthesia.
- Introduction of the combustible engine, incandescent light bulb, and modern assembly line. Encouraged the formation of labor unions, improving working conditions and wages.
Disadvantages of Industrialization
Despite the advancements, the Industrial Revolution also caused several challenges:
- Food shortages due to migration from rural farming to urban factory jobs.
- Increased urban pollution and deplorable living conditions as cities expanded rapidly.
- Deterioration of working conditions, characterized by long hours, low pay, minimal breaks, and child labor, which spurred the labor movement in the U.S.
Most Important Innovations of the Industrial Revolution
- Cotton Mill: Samuel Slater introduced Britain’s manufacturing technology to the U.S., starting a wave of industrial growth in the Northeast.
- Transcontinental Railroad (1869): This monumental achievement enabled the nationwide transportation of goods, people, and raw materials in the U.S.
- Telegraph: Created by Samuel Morse, it revolutionized communication by sending electric signals over a wire.
- Steel Mills: Andrew Carnegie’s first steel mills laid the groundwork for America’s future infrastructure.
- Telephone: Invented by Alexander Graham Bell, it massively changed the way the world communicated.
Defining the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution shifted societies from agrarian economies to manufacturing economies where machines took over manual labor, resulting in increased production efficiency, lower prices, and mass human migration from rural areas to urban centers.
Timeline
- First Industrial Revolution: Began in Great Britain in the mid-to-late 1700s, when innovations enabled large-scale machine production.
- Second Industrial Revolution: Emerged in the U.S. in the late 1800s, driven by further technological advancements.
Crucial Elements
Three primary elements contributed to the Industrial Revolution:
- Technological Changes: Including the use of iron and steel.
- Energy Sources: Innovations in coal and steam power.
- Factory System: Promoting labor division and specialization for enhanced efficiency.
Key Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
Some of the period’s most impactful inventions include:
- First Industrial Revolution: Steam engine, spinning jenny, cotton gin, and telegraph.
- Second Industrial Revolution: Internal combustion engine, controlled electricity, and lightbulb.
Related Terms: Capitalism, Mechanization, Factory System, Labor Unions, Urbanization.
References
- University of California, Davis. “World Economic History: 2. The British Industrial Revolution, 1760-1860”.
- Smithsonian American Art Institute. “Industrial United States (1870-1900)”.
- Britannica. “Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution”.
- Britannica. “History of Flight”.
- Library of Congress. “Rise of Industrial America, 1876-1900: Overview”.
- The Brookings Institution. “Why are Fossil Fuels So Hard to Quit?”
- BBC. “Why was Coal So Important to the Industrial Revolution?”
- Library of Congress. “The Industrial Revolution in the United States”.
- Library of Congress. “City Life in the Late 19th Century”.
- Library of Congress. “Work in the Late 19th Century”.
- History. “Water and Air Pollution”.
