Introduction

This blog covers the Industrial Revolution and its effects on Europe as well as America. It will cover the information from the 22nd chapter of A History of Western Society.

While the revolutions in France were setting up Europe for the modern political world, the Industrial Revolution, which took its roots in Great Britain from 1750 to 1850, was beginning to transform economic and social life. The rise of modern industry had a profound impact on people and their lives, greatly modifying human experience. It changed patterns of work, attitudes toward child labor, social class structure, and eventually, balance of political power. With the growth of the factory system came the growth of a large class of laborers, who, as decades passed, moved closer and closer to radical social policies e.g. Marxian socialism.

By writing this blog, I hope to show the understanding and knowledge I have gained from this chapter, specifically the effects the Industrial Revolution has had on the modern world.

Essential Question: Why did the Industrial Revolution start in Great Britain and not somewhere else in Europe?

The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain for a number of reasons, the most important being that Britain had the best economy during the eighteenth century. This can be attributed to Britain's mercantilist policies (illustrated on the right), which they implemented across the Atlantic. As pictured, this system of trade provided Britain with a huge supply of raw resources form the colonies, and this also created a large market for manufactured goods which Britain exported to. Another reason the industrial Revolution began in Britain was improvement to the agricultural system. Enclosure made farming more efficient, and combined with high import tariffs, lowered crop prices and added to the already large class of laborers. Other reasons include the improvement to transportation (railroads), a pro business government, which provided the capital to build factories and railroads, and inventions like the steam engine and power loom.