6.10 Causation in the Age of Industrialization
3 min read•january 8, 2023
Sharii Liang
Isabela Padilha Vilela
Sharii Liang
Isabela Padilha Vilela
The Great British Powerhouse
Political and social stability combined with an abundance of natural resources led to Great Britain industrializing first. Once they industrialized the textile industry and efficiently utilized the railroads, 🛤️ their industrial dominance was complete.
England then went on to inspire the rest of the world to follow in its footsteps in the .
Remember that great part of the UK's ability to become this dominant powerhouse was due, not only the natural resources of the mainland, but of its colonies as well. They invested a lot in their domestic industry to become self-sufficient during that period. Other European nations that later industrialized also followed UK's steps in having roots in the mainland and having some state ownership. In addition, the political and social environment of the country also enabled its rapid industrialization. Unlike other European nations, the UK was not plagued by wars and conflict that could undermine their production capacity.
The Birth of the Working Class
Industrialization birthed a working-class that consisted of people who were kicked out of agriculture and a middle class that consisted of factory owners. The family structure changed over time due to industrialization. It also completely destroyed the old social order and distribution of where the population lived due to and rapid population growth. This demographic changes, in turn, also led to the increase of poverty and the easier dissemination of diseases due to the emergence of highly dense urban areas. This also saw the rise of women workers, though they did not have the same appreciation and rights as their male counterparts.
Stuck in Their Ways
The end of Napoleon’s empire signaled the beginning of a conservative Europe stuck in the ways of old. This new conservative Europe led to many governments that were considered too overbearing and traditional. The government’s reluctance to strive for progress would lead to new ideologies that sought to fix that reluctance. The rise of liberals (Jeremy Benthamnt and ) and (, , and ) all advocated for a more comprehensive governance that acknowledges the power of the people. 🧍♀️
Pressure the System
Industrialization created problems that the average person could not solve alone. As time passed and demands for reform grew, the government had to change. At first, organizations and individuals led the charge. 📢
Once the government saw how large the demand for change was, they had no choice but to initiate and support movements that responded to problems emphasized by industrialization. This period of innovation and reform would end with the beginning of .
🎥 Watch: AP Europe - Industrial Revolution
Key Terms to Review (12)
Clara Zetkin
: Clara Zetkin was a German Marxist theorist, activist, and advocate for women's rights. She organized the first International Women's Day in 1911.First Industrial Revolution
: The First Industrial Revolution was a period from about 1760 to 1840 marked by major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport that had profound effects on socioeconomic conditions.Friedrich Engels
: Friedrich Engels was a German philosopher, historian, and revolutionary socialist. He co-authored "The Communist Manifesto" with Karl Marx and supported Marx's work on capitalism critique.Great British Powerhouse
: The term "Great British Powerhouse" refers to the period in history when Britain was the world's leading industrial and economic power, particularly during the 19th century. This was largely due to its pioneering role in the Industrial Revolution.John Stuart Mill
: John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher and economist who is best known for his contributions to the theory of utilitarianism and political economy. He advocated for individual freedom against state control.Karl Marx
: A 19th-century philosopher, economist, sociologist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist who co-authored 'The Communist Manifesto' with Friedrich Engels. His theories about society, economics, and politics—collectively known as Marxism—hold that human societies develop through class struggle.Marxists
: Marxists follow the theories of Karl Marx which argue that societies progress through class struggle between those who own production means (bourgeoisie) and those who provide labor power (proletariat).Modern Capitalism
: Modern Capitalism refers to an economic system where private entities control trade and industry rather than the state. It's characterized by competition, profit motive, private property rights & wage labor.Rosa Luxemburg
: Rosa Luxemburg was a Polish Marxist theorist, philosopher, economist, anti-war activist who became a naturalized German citizen at the age of 28. She co-founded the anti-war Spartacus League which eventually became the Communist Party of Germany.Urbanization
: The process of making an area more urban, typically involving the shift from a rural to an urban lifestyle. This often occurs as a result of industrialization and is characterized by population growth in towns and cities.Working Class
: The working class is a social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.World War One
: World War One, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918. It involved many of the world's leading powers organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers.6.10 Causation in the Age of Industrialization
3 min read•january 8, 2023
Sharii Liang
Isabela Padilha Vilela
Sharii Liang
Isabela Padilha Vilela
The Great British Powerhouse
Political and social stability combined with an abundance of natural resources led to Great Britain industrializing first. Once they industrialized the textile industry and efficiently utilized the railroads, 🛤️ their industrial dominance was complete.
England then went on to inspire the rest of the world to follow in its footsteps in the .
Remember that great part of the UK's ability to become this dominant powerhouse was due, not only the natural resources of the mainland, but of its colonies as well. They invested a lot in their domestic industry to become self-sufficient during that period. Other European nations that later industrialized also followed UK's steps in having roots in the mainland and having some state ownership. In addition, the political and social environment of the country also enabled its rapid industrialization. Unlike other European nations, the UK was not plagued by wars and conflict that could undermine their production capacity.
The Birth of the Working Class
Industrialization birthed a working-class that consisted of people who were kicked out of agriculture and a middle class that consisted of factory owners. The family structure changed over time due to industrialization. It also completely destroyed the old social order and distribution of where the population lived due to and rapid population growth. This demographic changes, in turn, also led to the increase of poverty and the easier dissemination of diseases due to the emergence of highly dense urban areas. This also saw the rise of women workers, though they did not have the same appreciation and rights as their male counterparts.
Stuck in Their Ways
The end of Napoleon’s empire signaled the beginning of a conservative Europe stuck in the ways of old. This new conservative Europe led to many governments that were considered too overbearing and traditional. The government’s reluctance to strive for progress would lead to new ideologies that sought to fix that reluctance. The rise of liberals (Jeremy Benthamnt and ) and (, , and ) all advocated for a more comprehensive governance that acknowledges the power of the people. 🧍♀️
Pressure the System
Industrialization created problems that the average person could not solve alone. As time passed and demands for reform grew, the government had to change. At first, organizations and individuals led the charge. 📢
Once the government saw how large the demand for change was, they had no choice but to initiate and support movements that responded to problems emphasized by industrialization. This period of innovation and reform would end with the beginning of .
🎥 Watch: AP Europe - Industrial Revolution
Key Terms to Review (12)
Clara Zetkin
: Clara Zetkin was a German Marxist theorist, activist, and advocate for women's rights. She organized the first International Women's Day in 1911.First Industrial Revolution
: The First Industrial Revolution was a period from about 1760 to 1840 marked by major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport that had profound effects on socioeconomic conditions.Friedrich Engels
: Friedrich Engels was a German philosopher, historian, and revolutionary socialist. He co-authored "The Communist Manifesto" with Karl Marx and supported Marx's work on capitalism critique.Great British Powerhouse
: The term "Great British Powerhouse" refers to the period in history when Britain was the world's leading industrial and economic power, particularly during the 19th century. This was largely due to its pioneering role in the Industrial Revolution.John Stuart Mill
: John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher and economist who is best known for his contributions to the theory of utilitarianism and political economy. He advocated for individual freedom against state control.Karl Marx
: A 19th-century philosopher, economist, sociologist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist who co-authored 'The Communist Manifesto' with Friedrich Engels. His theories about society, economics, and politics—collectively known as Marxism—hold that human societies develop through class struggle.Marxists
: Marxists follow the theories of Karl Marx which argue that societies progress through class struggle between those who own production means (bourgeoisie) and those who provide labor power (proletariat).Modern Capitalism
: Modern Capitalism refers to an economic system where private entities control trade and industry rather than the state. It's characterized by competition, profit motive, private property rights & wage labor.Rosa Luxemburg
: Rosa Luxemburg was a Polish Marxist theorist, philosopher, economist, anti-war activist who became a naturalized German citizen at the age of 28. She co-founded the anti-war Spartacus League which eventually became the Communist Party of Germany.Urbanization
: The process of making an area more urban, typically involving the shift from a rural to an urban lifestyle. This often occurs as a result of industrialization and is characterized by population growth in towns and cities.Working Class
: The working class is a social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.World War One
: World War One, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918. It involved many of the world's leading powers organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers.
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