Industrial Revolution Flashcards
(34 cards)
Why did the Industrial Revolution occur?
The Industrial Revolution occurred as a result of a combination of political, economic, social and technological (PEST) factors.
What were some political factors that contributed to the occurrence of the Industrial Revolution?
- Britain had a strong and stable government, which gave people the confidence to invest in businesses.
- Throughout the 1700s, Britain expanded its empire and this expansion gave the country access to raw materials such as cotton which was needed in industry
- Britain adopted the policy of mercantilism and ensure that its colonies only traded with Britain, thus increasing its wealth and power
What were some economic factors that contributed to the occurrence of the Industrial Revolution?
- The expansion of Britain’s empire meant that Britain gained more access to raw materials which could be used in industry and in trade.
- The strong government also encouraged people to invest in businesses more.
What were some social factors that contributed to the occurrence of the Industrial Revolution?
- urbanisation occurred, where an increasing number of people relocated to British cities from the countryside in search of work. This resulted in an increased demand for basic resources such as housing, infrastructure and food.
- the agricultural and textile industries were thus the first areas in which innovation occurred to meet the growing needs.
What were some technological factors that contributed to the occurrence of the Industrial Revolution?
- the agricultural revolution, which was a period where farmers found more innovative and efficient ways to increase food production. The previous open field system was ineffective as there was always one field being left fallow (not in use).
- the new concept of enclosure meant that people farmed larger blocks of land, increasing food production.
- the norfolk crop rotation system meant that no field was ever left fallow.
- The changes in the agricultural industry meant that fewer labourers were required and the increased food production meant that the growing urban population could be fed, and it also resulted in greater profits for farmers, who could invest this money into other innovation.
What was the enlightment?
A time period where thinkers began to challenge the traditional teachings of religious authorities.
- thinking became based on reason rather than belief
- new scientific theories and principles emerged during this time
- the enlightment also challenged the way countries were governed, for example the purpose of government, etc.
What advances in economic thinking contributed to the industrial revolution?
- banking systems
- financial support
- low interest rates encourage people to take on risks on innovative technology
What were some new inventions that boosted the Industrial Revolution?
- Spinning jenny
- factories
- internal combustion engine
When was the spinning jenny invented and by who?
the spinning jenny was invented in 1764 by James Hargreaves, allowing for 8 threads to be spun at once.
What was the effect of revolutionizing transport?
- roads
- canals
- railways
- steamships
these inventions/improvements in transport resulted in much faster travel, which led to better communication, spread of ideas, spread of issues at the time such as political and social changes, and faster transportation of goods.
What were the turnpike trusts?
the turnpike trusts were set up by the British government, they were groups which charged tolls and used the money for road resurfacing and repair as the roads were in bad condition and made travelling very difficult. This greatly improved the speed of travel, and it was especially beneficial for merchants and manufacturers whose profits increased with quicker road travel.
When was the internal combustion engine developed and by who?
The internal combustion engine was developed by Etienne Lenoir in 1859 and its design formed the basics for all modern cars and engines.
How did industrialization change how people worked?
Before the industrial revolution, over 80% of Britain’s population lived and worked in the countryside. After the introduction of enclosure, many people were forced to move to urban areas to work in newly built factories.
What were working conditions like in factories?
- 12-16 hour long days
- low wages as factory owners wanted to earn as much as possible
- dangerous conditions as machines had no safety guards
What was it like to work as a child labourer?
- child labour was a very prominent thing at the time because hiring children was very cheap.
- children were small and agile meaning they could fit under machinery and fix them when they needed repairing without having to turn the machine off
- they could fit into small tunnels in mines and often worked as trappers, bringing up ores and such.
- children who worked in mines often suffered physical deformities and long-term damage to their bodies due to constantly being exposed to raw materials and chemicals
What was the Factory Act and when was it passed?
- passed in 1833 by the British government
- improved conditions for children working in factories
- stated that no children under 9 were allowed to work in textile factories and children between 9 and 13 were only permitted to work 8 hours a day.
How did the Industrial Revolution change living conditions?
Industrialisation meant that most opportunities were in cities, so the urban population boomed.
- building companies constructed small, narrow, terraced houses, squeezing as many dwellings as they could
- houses did not have running water or indoor toilets and not much was done for sanitation
- cesspits were used to collect waste but the often overflowed and contaminated drinking water supplies
- epidemics of cholera and typhus
Who challenged the status quo?
People such as Robert Owen, Friedrich Engels, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Charles Darwin challenged the status quo.
What did Robert Owen do?
- he was an advocate for socialism and believed in looking after the welfare of his workers was just as important as making a profit for his company
- he was highly critical of child labour and stopped the employment of children under 10
- he set up a school for them to attend and made sure his workers had housing and access to doctors
- he’s “8 hours work, 8 hours recreation, 8 hours sleep” slogan was adopted by the 8 hours movement in Victoria in 1856.
Who was Friedrich Engels?
- he advocated for people’s working conditions and rights through his book
- he spoke of their bad working conditions and minimum pay and how many were barely able to survive
Who was Mary Wollstonecraft?
- she lacked formal education and so was self-taught.
- she advocated for equality and education for women
- she believed that men and women should be treated equally and that if women got the same chances as men, they could equally contribute to society
Who was Charles Darwin?
- he wrote the book “On the Origin of Species”
- it was highly controversial as Darwin theorised that different species of plants and animals had evolved to suit their environment to ensure their survival.
- he called this natural selection.
What political groups fought for social and political change?
- the women’s suffrage movement
- trade unions
- tolpuddle martyrs
- chartists
- luddites
What was the women’s suffrage movement?
- women started to campaign for the right to vote and became known as suffragettes.
- many men did not believe that women were smart enough to understand politics and that they were too emotional to make important decisions.
- South Australia became the first place in the world to pass legislation allowing women to both vote and stand in parliament in 1894. British women got the right to vote in 1918.
