Pros and Cons of the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a key point that changed the history of entire world. It began in the 1700s in Manchester, England. The Industrial Revolution rapidly spread across Great Britain and eventually took over the entire continent of Europe. New inventions and new ways of producing products and goods came about and changed the way the world approached agriculture and trade. People began to migrate from rural lands to big cities to grasp the new opportunities that were rapidly coming available. During this period of time, people's lives and business practices changed forever. However, just like a story, there are two sides to everything. In my essay, we will go over the pros and cons of the Industrial Revolution.
Pros
Inventions such as the steam engine, made it easier to produce more products at a faster rate. The
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Health, schooling, clothing, and nutrition became much more important.
Cons
During the Industrial Revolution, there was more wealth to be made in large cities rather than rural farming areas. Many people deserted their farms in hopes of finding wealth in the industrial centers. This caused farmed goods to be in short supply for long periods of time.
Before factories emerged during this revolution, pollution was almost nonexistent. Factories began dumping trash and burning products to reduce their own waste. Since then, pollution has not stopped and, to this day, continues to soil our land, air, and water.
Factories began to care more about profit and not so much about the awful working conditions for its disadvantaged workers. They began to demand and force long hours, no breaks, and lower pay in order to have larger profit margins. This ultimately resulted in sickness, disease, and death to spread through many
The Industrial revolution which lasted from the late 1700’s to the mid 1800’s had many effects on the US in the 1700’s, 1800’s, and today. Led by inventors, workers, and big business owners the Industrial revolution in America was a time period were the mechanization of agriculture and textile manufacturing and the revolution of power sources began and innovated the manufacturing possibilities in America. It began with the discovery of new inventions, and affected many people from immigrants and cityfolk to the creators and owners of giant manufacturing companies. Since it has quite a few positives and negatives the discussion of the Industrial revolution in the US and be very split or controversial. The positives include economic growth and opportunity, helped communities, urbanization and negatives include the loss of competition, the effects on workers and conditions, and the loss of caring between social classes. The Industrial revolution had many positive effects.
The filth could not be contained with many factories producing it, as a result it darkened the city streets, lowering the air quality and making life for the lower class much less healthy (Document 12). The only class that didn’t feel as much of the repercussions was the upper class, since they owned their own land for the most part and had access to medicine and treatments that the lower classes didn’t. Despite all the revolutions, the upper class remained on the top of the social ladder, and were treated much better than the working class. While the wealthy rode in closed cars on steam trains, the lower classes had to make do with what was little more than a wooden box on wheels, exposing them to the elements (Document 11). Despite the negative on the working class, the Industrial Revolution improved Britain’s economy as a
One of the negative effects was the illness of many workers in the factories and mills. In Document 4, a worker from the factories is interviewed about his illness. He has damaged lungs, and leg muscles that do not function properly, and do not support the weight of his bones. The worker’s doctor told him that his illness was caused by dust in the factories, being overworked, and insufficient diet, and was told he would die within the year. Another negative effect of the Industrial Revolution was pollution.
The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, had a profound impact on society and the economy. It brought about new changes in manufacturing processes, urbanization, and living standards. However, the Industrial Revolution also had a dark side. Many workers were forced to leave their farms and move to cities to find work in factories. These workers often lived in filthy conditions, overcrowded housing, poor sanitation, and lack of access to clean water which led to the spread of diseases.
Industrialization brought about new technology that helped reduce the cost of production. Before industrialization manufacturing costs were high. The invention of machines and assembly lines enabled the production of things in masses and this led to reduction in cost, and the prompt availability of products.
Many diseases were formed such as the black lung and many people were seriously injured because of poor working conditions. Many cases involved loss of limbs due to poor regulations and machine operation. Training for the machines were never made. This was a cause of the invention of the steam train created many problems including health and physical
The canalization of rivers, the steam engine, and railways were key components of the development of industry [2]. The extensive canal system was created around the mid 1700s to move goods and supplies inland. This system was cheaper and quicker than shipping goods over land [3]. The steam engine, however, was the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution. Prior to the invention of steam power, factories were located along rivers and used water for power. The development of a practical, efficient steam engine and its application to industry and transportation was a great leap in progress for industrialization. The steam engine’s application was limitless, and it was responsible for lifting industries from infancy to adolescence. Steam engines were used to develop machines that operated factory systems, pumps for mines, faster ships, and locomotives. A steam locomotive was able to carry raw materials and products very quickly. The expansion of the uses of the steam engine created the steam locomotive and a greater need for a railroad system. As a result, Railroads multiplied rapidly in England from 1,000 miles in 1836 to more than 7,000 miles by 1852 [4]. Machinery took the place of the work of many humans and made the work easier on others.
Another negative effect of the Industrial Revolution was the poor sanitary conditions in cities. When Friedrich Engels visited an English industrial city he stated in “The Conditions of the Working Class in England” that the streets are usually unpaved, full of holes, filthy and strewn with refuse due to the lack of gutters or drains. This caused the main river of Manchester to look coal black and be packed with stinking filth. The factories also led to pollution and poor air quality due to the open air vents and chimneys which released the pollution from the factory into the air. Many people who lived in these poor cities or slums were either the working class or the poor that had to struggle through these unsanitary conditions.
"This left workers deformed, crippled and useless". This meant that once they were worked to the point where they couldn't anymore, they were easily replaced. During this time, no job was guaranteed. Also, these workers sustained life-threatening injuries and never had any breaks which meant that they could never recover and were permanently
The Industrial Revolution was a time of great changes that occurred in Britain in the 1800’s. but did you know that those changes shaped our world into what it has become and still affect us today.
The Industrial Revolution was one of the most important and productive periods of history. The Industrial Revolution has to do with the time between the late 18th century and mid-19th century where there were profound advances in production, manufacturing, and other fields of engineering. It began in Great Britain in the late 1700s which then spread to the United States and then to many other parts of the world. Societies were very rural but they changed into cities because of the Industrial Revolution. Before the Industrial Revolution, people relied on hand tools and basic machines for manufacturing which occurred in people 's homes. The Industrial Revolution was then caused by
The Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was arguably the most important turning point in history. It transformed the manufacture of goods from craftsmanship to commercialism, exponentially increasing output and decreasing production cost leading to prosperity and an unprecedented supply of goods for the markets of the world. Industrialization and mass production was the fuel which ignited the flame of capitalism which was already established creating bringing sweeping changes in wealth and its distribution. Within a few generations the very fabric of society was virtually remade as millions left the farms and villages of the countryside for jobs in the cities. This monumental change did not immediately sweep
The Industrial Revolution was a period in the 18th century that changed the methods of how goods were produced. Due to the growing population, plenty of resources, and good transportation, Great Britain was the first country to industrialize. During that time, the country experienced a rapid change from an agricultural based economy to one that was factory based and used machines. In addition, throughout this period many people shifted from the rural area and migrated to the urban areas. The transition from making goods and products by hand to making goods by machines drastically changed the lives of the people. Life was onerous because of the harsh working conditions, grievous injuries and deaths due to machines, and tough living conditions.
The work force for farmers was declining because machines such as the seed drill made it more efficient to grow crops at a quicker rate. The creation of the steam engine invented by Thomas Savery made it easier for transportation because people figured out how to use fossil fuels such as coal to their advantage. As time passed the industrial revolution, began to impact other parts
As workers moved to cities to work in factories, and progress in medical and sanitation practices improved, urban crowding became a huge issue. Additionally, where industry was taking over production in markets that had previously been dominated by small business owners, these skilled workers, weavers and the like, were now being forced to take jobs working for capitalist ventures-- often working in the industry coinciding with their master skill, but