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What Was Revolutionary About The Industrial Revolution

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Lixia Ma
Professor Nguyen
His 1003
Oct. 1, 2014

Film Review #1
Prompt: What was revolutionary about the Industrial Revolution?

The Industrial Revolution was a period of time during the 18th century in which the hand tools were transformed to machine manufacturing in term of mass production. People took the ideas from Enlightenment and destroyed the old order of federalism in society. As a result, the Industrial Revolution brought new changes economically, politically, and socially. New transportation method was developed and the standard of living raised as well. However, on the other hand, the Industrial Revolution was also detriment to the society by creating bad working conditions, causing pollutions, and the occurring of diseases. …show more content…

First, the expanding of agricultural production led to the rise of population. For instance, the Britain's population tripled during the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution increased the life expectancy among all classes. The textile factories helped people, including the poor ones, afford cloth at cheaper prices. (Merriman, 515) The geographic feature of Great Britain also shifted to the process of industrialization. Great Britain had many natural harbors and was rich in minerals. Thus, new transportation methods were developed and factories were built by the availability of source powers. (Merriman, 513-524) As more and more factories were built in the city, transportation was improved by the building of roads and canals, the inventions of steam locomotive and steam engines, as well as the grew of railroads. People from the rural areas started to migrate to the city seeking for jobs in the factories, hence, led to the increasing in urbanization. (Merriman, …show more content…

They have to work approximately 15 hrs with excessive works a day with little time for meal and/or rest. In the film, when Chaplin was fired and accidently got into jail for "leading" a communist protestors, he was actually felt happy about staying in the jail. After he was released, Chaplin tried to be arrested again since he doesn't need to worry about where to sleep and what to eat in the jail. This happens because when machines were replacing human power, a lot of people have to face the problem of unemployment. There was less job opportunities compared to the number of people who need a job. The primary source "Conditions of the Working Class in England in 1844" by Friedrich Engels showed the pollution caused by Industrial Revolution. The quote "At the bottom flows, or rather stagnates, the Irk, a narrow, coal-black, foul-smelling stream, full of debris and refuse..." (p. 2) shows the water system were polluted by factories. People were unable to take water from the rivers for any purpose. Hence, by the 1830's and 1840's, workers formed unions to demand social and political reforms. Fighting for equality among all people, dignity of labor, and perniciousness of unrestrained capitalism. (Merriman,

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