The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, marked a significant period of transformation that had a profound impact on society. It introduced new manufacturing processes and machines that led to increased production and significant economic growth. However, the impact of this revolution on the working class is a matter of debate. This paper aims to answer the question, "What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the working class?" by exploring its economic, social, and political implications in depth. The Industrial Revolution marked a significant shift in the way goods were produced. New machines were invented, leading to increased productivity and output. However, these changes had far-reaching consequences …show more content…
This culture was characterized by crowded and unsanitary living conditions, long working hours, and a lack of safety measures. As Friedrich Engels notes in his book The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844, "The working-class lived in houses which were unfit for human habitation, houses built to replace others which had been destroyed in the course of 'improvements,' and which were not intended to be permanent dwellings" …show more content…
The rise of industrial capitalism led to a shift in power from the traditional aristocracy to the emerging industrial class. The working class, however, remained largely disenfranchised and excluded from political power. As historian Joel Mokyr notes in his book The Industrial Revolution, "Industrial capitalism created a new class of entrepreneurs and capitalists who increasingly challenged the dominance of the landed aristocracy, but the working class remained largely powerless" (168). This led to the growth of labor unions and other social movements aimed at improving the working conditions of the working class. These movements fought for better wages, working hours, and safety measures. As E.P. Thompson notes in his book The Making of the English Working Class, "The working class began to organize itself for the defense of its rights and interests, and trade unions, friendly societies, and political associations sprang up throughout the country"
The Industrial Revolution was a period between both the seventeen as well as eighteen hundreds, and was mainly acknowledged as a time of immense change. Throughout the numerous years, various inventions were shortly to be developed such as the refined Newcomen steam engine, the cotton mill machine, and most importantly, the water frame. These modern developments certainly affected the revolution positively, though after several years however, factories for these inventions were eventually to be manufactured. The factories in particular were privately operated by wealthy factory owners who required others to complete the complex tasks. According to the wealthy operators, the less fortunate of mankind were required to complete these hazardous duties.
Industrial Revolution DBQ Essay The Industrial Revolution was a time period that began in the 18th century in Great Britain and later spread throughout many other parts of the world, such as further in Europe and the United States. The revolution involved a shift between making goods by hand to by machine and impacted those of all social classes, each with their own active role in contributing to progression. Manchester, an influential and powerful city of the revolution period, illustrates the ways to which the revolution progressed. The city presents evidence of initially divided social classes and a negatively impacted environment, but later amends were made to create a generally positive outcome.
The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, brought about a rapid economic growth and modernization that transformed the way goods were produced and consumed. With the introduction of new technologies and machines, production became more efficient and less labor-intensive, leading to an increase in the production of goods and a decrease in their cost. However, The rapid economic growth due to industrialization also had a significant impact on the quality of life for humans and how they live, particularly for those who worked in factories and children. While the industrial revolution did create new opportunities and convenient inventions that made life easier it also contained poor living conditions, poor working conditions,
The Industrial Revolution shaped the growing economy at the time in many positive and negative aspects. The Industrial Revolution took place during the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s and was considered to be the “New Industrial.” Many things were brought to the economy at the time due to this occurring; some in which being machinery, technology, production of goods, and even performance. The economy was not the only thing greatly affected by this revolution but the farmers, the working-class, and the middle-class were also affected to a deep extent.
One of the major subjects that the industrial revolution had affected was the social structure. Throughout history, there have been different “social classes” in which people were classified in. During the industrial revolution, two new classes arose. These two were known as the “middle class” and the “working class”. Towns kept expanding into cities, and more people in America converted to working at home or at farms to working in big factories.
The Industrial Revolution, lasting from the late 1700s until the early 1900s, was possibly one of the greatest time periods in this world’s history. This time period caused people to think more and dream bigger. From these big dreams rose up inventors, entrepreneurs, and business owners. The Industrial Revolution brought many new inventions and production processes, but along with great new things come great terrible horrors. While some might argue that Industrialization had primarily positive consequences for society because of the new production methods and what they produced, it was actually a negative thing for society.
The first expressions (Luddism and Captain Swing riots) were more aggressive, impulsive and even primitives not against technology, but this new system. However, they both failed at gaining their objectives, due to lack of organization and consciousness of the new role they had to accept. Before industrialization, work classes did not necessarily have a better position in society, but a least they knew what role they played, with Industrial Revolution, everything changes, it disrupts the whole system and they had to reassert their positions from scratch. They wanted to protect themselves into the new social-economical system, and the only way to do it was to become aware of their new role in this new society and use their strengths to claim for their rights. Later and more sophisticated movements, as Trade Unions or Chartism, achieved their claims because they identified themselves as workers, they fought together for their rights at a national level and the parliament could not ignore all these claims.
(Dmitriev, 4) According to Karl Marx, “The first step on the path to the workers revolution is the elevation of the proletariat to the position of the ruling class. The proletariat will gain from its political domination by tearing away from the bourgeoisie.” (Encyclopedia, 1) The term bourgeoisie was used to identify the wealthy class. Vladimir Lenin applied Marx’s idea of a proletarian
Overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions resulted from the growth of factory towns and cities, as many workers were forced to live in cramped and poorly maintained housing. As a result, disease spread, and worker health deteriorated. An example of this from “The Conditions of the Working Class in England “written by Friedrich Engels after he visited an English industrial city in 1844 Says “The slums . . . are generally unplanned wildernesses of one- or two-storied houses. Wherever possible these have cellars which are also used as dwellings.
The Industrial Revolution was the rapid development of industry that occured in Britain in the late ! 8th and 19th century; often associated with the introduction of machinery. With new developments of machinery, mass production and the use of steam power were very commonly brought up during this time. However, the Industrial Revolution not only brought along new technology, but also marked the start of the ‘industrious revolution’, the cruel and long labour that was often related with industrialism. Although there are many drawbacks to the Industrial Revolution such as the working people's’ pain, the Industrial Revolution impacted many crucial factors that were advantageous.
During the 1700’s, throughout The United States, France, Latin America, and originally Great Britain, a revolution sparked, this revolution would be known as, The Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution paved the way for modern industrial societies, it began machine made-goods, new machines, techniques in textiles, and iron making. It made a great impact on our world today. The Industrial Revolution helped transform social classes for the good, helped give laborers higher wages, less hours and better working conditions, created jobs for people, and overall brought us a better standard of living.
“Poor workers were often housed in cramped, grossly inadequate quarters.” Many workers had long days and hours with dangerous and vigorous tasks every day, and they would need to go back home to many other people with other families, all cramped into a tiny house with only 2-4 rooms with families of 4-5 children with them. Many people carried diseases from the conditions surrounding them and ailments in their day-to-day lives during the Industrial Revolution, so it is clear how dangerous it would be to be around so many people and have to share everything with them. Additionally, the conditions weren’t just wrong in the factories; they were very harmful on the outsides, such as infrequent garbage removal, sharing public outhouses, no running, clean water, and closely built buildings with narrow streets. Families and children who lived near factories and moved for work often started working together.
The Communist Manifesto from Marx and Engels discussed the social class structures and the problems with it in society. Once the industrial revolution began it had a huge impact on society. There was an increase in production with the advancement of machinery and steam engines (Kivisto 16). It made the production such as cars easier but it lost the workers its autonomy as the proletariats were just treated as means to an end by the bourgeoisie. The proletariat’s have always been the working class in society.
Identification of the issue The Industrial Revolution of the late 17th and early 18th century can be defined as a transition from predominantly agrarian economy to an industrial and manufacturing one. This being the first revolution of its kind, sparked by the industrial revolution that began in late 17th century in Britain, was popularly known as the ‘First Industrial Revolution’. What triggered this transformation in economy was the mechanization of manufacturing process which was supported by technological changes such as invention of new machines, use of iron and steel, development of railways and steamships, and use of new forms of energy from coal to steam, thus bringing in an era of mass production (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica,
One of which was its atrocious working conditions, which forced them to “resort to illegal actions and linkage with the revolutionary parties.” Another was the class’ unification in a “relatively small number of industrial centers, including St. Petersburg and Moscow,” which “enhanced the workers’ ability to have an impact politically if they were organized.” While these features were important, “equally or even more significant” were the development of the working class’ values and identity, which increased literary, led to the formation of study circles, and the organization of strikes and demonstrations, which continued to fuel the