Transformative Impacts of the Industrial Revolution in the Early 19th Century
Historically, the Industrial Revolution began at the end of the 18th century in Great Britain and was actively moving forward. By the beginning of the 19th century, it covered the countries of Europe and England. There were several reasons for such a rapid movement: Great Britain had a good inflow of capital from the colonies, making it possible to develop the trading system actively (Goldstone et al., 2022).
At the same time, trade, labor, and judicial relations were actively streamlined, and institutions were formed responsible for order in these areas. Meanwhile, the formation and order of the market for resources and factors of production, including the labor market, was carried out, and the accelerated development of science and technology took place. The industrial revolution is a long and complex transition from the handicraft and manufacturing stage of material production to the machine stage, with all the social and economic consequences. The revolution improved industry, transport, and finance, led to the emergence of new social groups, and created several new political and social institutions.
The Factory System and Its Effects on Workers’ Lives
The introduction of the factory system had a significant impact on the development of society: before the spread of factories, a large number of people lived in the countryside, while after that, people began to move to cities. This movement from a rural to an urban society led to a dramatic change in the way people lived. The revolution led to the formation of public and private social insurance systems, trade unions, and education reform. In addition, this was the reason for strengthening the liberal-conservative political model, the expansion of suffrage, and the struggle of workers, women, and national minorities for their rights (Adelman et al., 2021). Introducing industry into people’s lives has led to a general rise in the level and quality of life in European countries.
Many factors hampered the growth of professional workers. Most of the workers came from villages, for whom labor on the land remained the main occupation, while work in production was changing and seasonal. Needing additional income, workers agreed with the owners of factories, after which they faced actual employment conditions that could be unprofitable for them (Adelman et al., 2021). It could be reflected in unfair pay, harsh treatment of workers, or even slavish conditions (Scott & Baltzly, 2019).
However, the factory system was not the reason for the fall in the standard of living of workers with stable and relatively high earnings. The factory system positively affected society’s standard of living, both directly and indirectly.
Roots of Revolutionary Activity in 1848: Old Grievances and New Pressures
Against the background of social changes, the problem of revolutionary actions in many European countries, which began with France, arose again. The deterioration of living conditions is mainly due to external factors: the economic crisis of the era of the Napoleonic Wars, the protectionist and fiscal measures of the British government, and more. The revolutions sweeping Europe in 1848 are still the broadest revolutionary wave Europe has ever seen (Goldstone et al., 2022). The reaction of the rulers to the revolutionary outbreaks of 1848 was panic; many left their posts on their own. Although the main ideas of the revolution were liberation from nationalism and an attempt to establish democracy, they are considered a failure because they could not achieve their goals in total.
The Role of The Industrial Revolution in History
The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries was not the only one, but the very first in humanity’s history. It showed that industrial revolutions are possible and necessary. Significant consequences of the Industrial Revolution of those times were changes in the social sphere. In the process, humanity finally entered a new era of development, studied, understood, and learned to apply its principles to benefit present and future generations.
References
Adelman, J., Pollard, E., Rosenberg, C. D., & Tignor, R. L. (2021). Worlds together, worlds apart: From the beginnings of humankind to the present. W.W. Norton & Company.
Goldstone, J. A., Grinin, L., & Korotayev, A. (2022). Introduction. changing yet persistent: Revolutions and revolutionary events. Handbook of Revolutions in the 21st Century, 1–34. Web.
Scott, J. F., & Baltzly, A. (Eds.). (2019). The Life of the Industrial Worker in Ninteenth-Century England — Evidence Given Before the Sadler Committee (1831-1832). Life of ninteenth-century workers – evidence given before the Sadler Committee (1831-1832). Web.