Industrialization in Europe November 9, 2009. Industrial Revolution? What are the characteristics of a revolution? What is the difference between a revolution.

Industrialization in Europe

November 9, 2009

Industrial Revolution?

What are the characteristics of a revolution? What is the difference between a revolution

and an evolution?

Pre-Industrialization Europe

Europe’s wealth was comparable to that of the rest of the world

~90% of Europeans lived in the countryside Artisans worked in small businesses, often

out of the home Products were crafted using hand tools -

entire process was done by one person Cottage Industries

The Big Question:

Did industrialization improve the lives of those affected?

Timeline of the Industrial Revolution Happened first in Britain, starting ~ 1790 1820 - France & Belgium 1850s – German States 1860s – U.S. (Civil War) 1870s – Canada, Italy, and Austria 1890s – Russia

What trends do you see?

Why now?

Steam engine Demographic revolution

The Steam Engine Move away from rivers James Watt – Greatly improved the machine. Became the form of power the drove

industrialization Powered by coal Development of

the railway

Demographic Revolution

At this time there was a massive change in demography. Prior to the 19th century, Europe had high birth and high death rates.

How did this change? Rapid population growth (England 1760 – 5.5 M,

1851 – 16.8 M) Rapid urbanization

Why did this change? Younger marriage, less celibacy, fewer still births

How did this affect men?

Men left farm work for wage work in the cities Conditions were awful, but opportunities were

seen to be better (Land issues) Some factory owners cared about the welfare

of their workers (Robert Owen) Men used to be trained directly and even

lived with employers

How did this affect women? Women were responsible for growing food on

farms for sustenance and garment cottage industries.

Move to the factories, became part of cotton mill production

Were heavily employed in textile and sewing mills

Expected to leave factory after marriage White slave trade Independence?

How did this affect children?

Were helpful operating small machine because of their smaller hands

14% of workers were under 14 years of age Discipline, maturity

Response to Industrialization

Workers were in close quarters and became aware of their collective power

Society (especially middle and upper class) saw the industrial revolution as corrupting women and children

Changing idea of the countryside

Worker Resistance

Unions illegal in England between 1799-1824; France between 1791-1848

Luddites – Northern Britain between 1811-1817. Government Response.

Mutual Aid & Friendly Societies – Only skilled workers could join