The industrial revolution was supposed to make changes in engineering, technology and organization of production. However, it had great social consequences. First of all, it had intensified the class structure of society, formed the industrial working class and industrial bourgeoisie. Latter, this event took over the power of dominant position in the economy and society. The structure of the bourgeoisie was modified in the different way. Instead of buyers the main role in the bourgeois society was devoted to manufacturers.
Significant changes have occurred in the organization and working conditions on the factories. By the middle of the XIX century, almost half of working age residents was involved in the industry. Employers were able to increase the intensity of labor on their factories. The implementation of the machine manufacturers created an opportunity to attract unskilled workers and replace men by the cheaper work force like women and children.
During the First Industrial Revolution the class structure of capitalist society took its shape more clearly. At the forefront were the industrial workers. The various classes of the bourgeoisie distinguished the industrialists and confrontation of social groups was a determining factor in the political development of the capitalist states.
The industrial revolution took place in all countries that joined the capitalist path of development. However, it had both general and specific preconditions related to the historical, economic, political, social, cultural and psychological characteristics of different societies. The transition to the industrial capitalism was carried out in many ways. For example, it was implemented with the help of revolution that was held both in England and France; reforms in Germany and Russia; immigration to the US; revolution and reforms in Japan.
The usage of the machines reduced the need to attract workers but their work was becoming harder and harder. Capitalists were only interested in "buying" of work force and they did not care about what happens to workers during the work process. The increase of the machines usage caused the growth of work force but at the same time reduced the demand on it. As a result, it became cheaper and the exploitation was even more ruthless.
There were a lot of workers who formed a new class it was called the proletariat. The people who did not have any means of production and capital used to be called as proletariat. The first socialist ideas had started to form since that time. In order to realize the full potential of the global industry for the benefit of ordinary employees they needed to organize the exploitation of the production to meet the needs of ordinary people. This concept is called scientific communism. Communist Party was based on this concept and continued to fight for the reconstruction of society.
The key aspect of capitalism is the possibility of hiring workers owners of the means of production that are the capitalists. This is part of the labor market of goods and services (hired labor is a service). Communism provides the state monopoly as they are only hiring workers. Citizens can not hire labor force to produce goods and services. Capitalism allows such a right for individuals or owners of the production means.
Another significant difference between capitalism and communism is that capitalism is the availability of the right to private ownership on the production means. Citizens can have at their disposal any means of production and use results of their activities as the profit from the sale. In communist society the ownership of the production means is owned exclusively by the state. The communistic law excluded the possibility of partial or collective ownership. All the production means had to be exclusively state-owned. Only the government could manage the results of their activities.
References
Engels, F. (1914). The Principles of Communism (pp. 81-97). Eduard Bernstein in the German Social Democratic Party’s Vorwärts!;
Deane, P. (1965). The First Industrial Revolution. Cambridge, England: University Press;
Steffel, V. (1995, March 22). The Industrial Revolution in World History.(Brief Article). The Historian;
Staton, H. (2012). The Industrial Revolution. New York: Kingfisher;
Hudson, P. (1992). In The Industrial Revolution (p. 11). Liverpool: Bloomsbury Academic.
