Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution is deemed to be the main breakthrough in the process of human's development. Since exactly humans were behind the progress achieved in the fields of "agriculture, textile and metal manufacture, transportation, economic policies and the social structure in England"; in fact, England is the birthplace of the industrial revolution, the changes inflicted by the revolution Britons experienced it firsthand. Lately, the industrial revolution was spread across Europe and Americas (Montagna).
This paper aims to focus at the industrial revolution as an important event at the time and its long lasting impact on the humans' lives. It will also take into account the place of origins for industrial revolution that widely is known to be England.
In fact, Britain is deemed to be the first country across the globe to leave behind Malthusianism and match the amount of population with the means of subsistence since 1750 (Econ 2006, p.2). This breakthrough was the basis under what the industrial revolution precisely took place in England. Another reason is linked with the fact that England was the major colonial power who as a matter of fact, had enough labor to move forward in the fields of the technology and manufacture. Indeed, England was a dominant power on a global scale that made it more feasible for the colony giant to develop various spheres in order to boost the profit and reduce the expenses.
Based on the “unified growth theory” and the approach of the “gradualist school of thought”, this paper will consider three main factors that have boosted the 1st industrial revolution in Britain which is" gradual nature of productivity growth and structural change, the role of inequality, and the nature of technological advances" (Econ 2006, p.5).
First and foremost reason of moving from Malthusianism into post- Malthusianism era can be argued demography of the country, namely, social and cultural norms that caused a low birth rate. This tendency was very scarce in the other countries that have resulted in higher incomes per capita in Britain bringing it to a superior position. A second explanation could be the persistence of a high inequality in 17th and 18th century's England. Even though, the issue remained, yet, the situation was far better to compare with the other European countries in this respect; for instance, in France, the poorest segment of the population which amounted to 20-30% of total population of the country did not get sufficient food, while Britons did receive more calories’ stuffed food. Besides "old poor law" was in effect in Britain that supported the poor part of the British society. It is believed that this could have influenced the incomes of people who were not the beneficiaries of this program by creating a less competitive environment that in turn has caused the rise in the wages. Higher wages may have maintained the need for industrial goods. (Econ 2006, p.5-6).
The third factor can be attributed to the significance of innovation and inventions; more precisely, with the acknowledgment of the property rights, that was not the case before 19th century’s England, has encouraged the inventors to create and be paid off for their effort (Econ 2006, p.6).
Overall, all three factors that were earlier discussed have played a role in bringing England in the center of industrial revolution that later was spread all over Europe and Americas.
The Industrial Revolution was broadly understood when new inventions such as machines completely transformed people's daily routine and more importantly, the production of means; moreover the adoption of steam, and the next step was the use of different sorts of power, so the energy and power of humans and animals were replaced with the new inventions and were no more in need; lastly, enactment of the factory system (Hackett). Alternative ways of manufacturing decreased the human labour and boosted the goods that enabled people at the time to less suffer of severe exhaustion caused by the overworking.
Interestingly, the Industrial Revolution did not happen in one day but it started emerging slowly and every invention filled the pool of different components of technology and manufacture. With the new inventions, the profit was so rapidly growing that already by the World, the automation of industry has progressed significantly that prompted another revolution in production. Further, various methods for organizing production was professed during Industrial Revolution (Hackett).
Notably, the textile industry was significantly modified by industrialization as in fact, earlier textiles were produced by humans in the houses which was far more time-consuming; but the industrialization has solved the issue of time and human resources that was deemed as a huge relief for the people and progress for en entire humankind at the time (History.Industrial Revolution).
The Advancing in the iron industry is worth noting; since the iron industry is deemed to be the central point of the revolution itself. As soon as British inventors Abraham Darby and later Henry Bessemer developed the machine for mass production of the steel. Steel was used in numerous variations, whether to build ships, different machines, and constructions. Importantly, the steam engine was invented by another Briton Thomas Newcomen (1664-1729) that lately was advanced by another English inventor James Watt that enabled the steam engines to "power machinery, locomotives, and ships during the Industrial Revolution"(History.Industrial Revolution).
The transportation manufacturing also experienced a vital change during the Industrial Revolution. Before the steam engine was created, products were distributed by the horses and boats, however, once American Robert Fulton built the steamboat, the situation radically changed for the people, as a result of this invention, humans could deliver their goods on a long distance within rather short amount of time. During the same early 1800s, when steam powered ships crossed the Atlantic, Richard Trevithick, another Briton erected the first railway steam locomotive" (History.Industrial Revolution).
Conclusion
Works cited
Montagna, Joseph. “The Industrial Revolution”. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. Web. Accessed 08 August 2016 at <http://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/1981/2/81.02.06.x.html>
Growth, J Econ. “Why England? Demographic factors, structural change and physical capital accumulation during the Industrial Revolution”. 2006.
Hackett, Lewis. “Industrial Revolution”. 1992. Web. Accessed 08August 2016 at < http://history-world.org/Industrial%20Intro.htm>
History. “Industrial Revolution”. Web. Accessed 08.2016 at http://www.history.com/topics/industrial-revolution
