Why and how do historians disagree about the Industrial Revolution? Flashcards
What is historiography? What is the historiography about the IR?
- the debate about meanings found within history
- was the IR an evolution or revolution?
What were cottage industries?
- small-scale production of goods in homes
When was the IR first called a revolution? By who?
- 1884
- Toynbee
What is the evidence for economic growth as a result of the IR?
- 1780s-90s: sharp rise in imports and exports
- industrial output increased from 2% to 3-4%
What was Britain’s international status? How is this evidence for the Revolution aspect?
- ‘workshop of the world’ by 1850s
- renowned for the variety and quality of its industries
What are examples of the variety of industries in Britain?
- metal trade in Birmingham
- woollen cloth in Yorkshire
What were causes of the IR? (5)
- availability of capital, raw materials, political stability and improvements in agriculture, increasing population
Why was the increasing population an important cause of the iR?
- increased demand for food and goods
- increased workforce
What did David Hume, a contemporary philosopher, say spurred on the IR?
greed
What stimulated the growth in trade?
- shipbuilding, exploration and colonisation; the East India Company
What did the growth in trade stimulate?
- development in banking and finance = more capital for investments
Why did political stability cause the IR?
allowed new ideas to flourish
How did the geography of Britain help contribute to the IR?
- surplus of natural resources to drive new tech, i.e fast flowing streams, iron & coal
- island nation = canal building
What are limits to the IR?
- 1851: agriculture still biggest factor, employing around 2mn
- north developed whilst older industrial centres/ towns declined
What is the Traditionalist view?
- the economic, social and political changes in Britain were large scale and a revolution
