...Discuss the claim that the middle classes gained most from the Industrial Revolution in Europe. Refer to at least two o f the following countries: Britain, France or Germany. The Industrial Revolution had a major impact on the structure of society in Europe. As in all major changes, there were winners and losers. This essay will examine the effect of the Industrial Revolution on the position of the middle class. The difference in income was significant even within what was considered middle-class as the concept of middle class was so vast. The middle class compromised of professionals, merchants, craftsmen, overseers, factory managers, lawyers, doctors and alike in the nineteenth century. The Industrial Revolution brought with it a general rise in living conditions throughout Europe. This was possibly one of the greatest of the benefits the middle classes enjoyed from the Industrial Revolution. Demand rose and new industries emerged stimulating the economy, resulting in more jobs being available and more wealth in general. The economical boost of the Industrial Revolution mainly benefitted the middle classes. The middle class generally amassed more wealth and attained more buying power; this had a straight effect on their livelihood and can be seen especially in housing. For example in London many middle-class families could afford to buy their own terraced home with two or three bedrooms. The housing enjoyed by the middle class was luxurious as opposed to the one...
Words: 1035 - Pages: 5
...The Industrial Revolution’s Effect on Social Class Student Name Institutional Affiliation Course Date The Industrial Revolution’s Effect on Social Class The industrial revolution was the period in which fundamental changes and effects took place in England between 1760 to 1850.The revolution had diverse effects on various sectors such as agriculture, education, transportation as well as the social class of the people. Moreover, the industrial revolution was a gradual process and generated drastic changes to the life of people in society as a whole. The fundamental purpose of this study discussion is to explore and showcase the effect the revolution had to the social division of people in England as well as the rest of the world. Social class was the categorization of society by their social and economic status. Focus will be made on various social classes that came into being during this historical era. The effect of the industrial revolution was mostly seen in the living conditions of the social classes during the 1880s. Among the nobility class, the birth was more significant compared to their income levels. Duke Cousins were weak and lazy and were accepted in the high society over the wealthy industrialists emanating from the lower class. Few lords owned great houses both in country and London town and additionally the lords were always waited on by their servants. During the modern industrial period of the 1800s, aristocracy members dominated almost every level of...
Words: 834 - Pages: 4
...was experiencing what is known as the First Industrial Revolution (circa 1780-1850). It is hard now to fathom the idea of having to function economically without the use of factories, factory machines, and factory workers. By history shifting from the cottage industry, traditional agriculture, and manual labor into a factory-based manufacturing type systems made of complex machinery, constant technological expansion, and new energy sources and advanced in transportation, we evolved. The entire world evolved, soon to rely on industries to survive. For hundreds of years, life was focused on agriculture. Most people lived in countries because city development was minimal. Most families farmed their own land and hand-made all necessities they needed, including farm tools, clothing, furniture and traded for things they could not develop on their own. Some trade items became more demanding such as thread developed on a spinning wheel or textiles being developed by hand on a weaving loom. This demand is what began the need for more products for more profit. (Riane Eisler (2007)). A chain of inventions in Great Britain was created to develop an increase in the production of manufactured goods. People all over the country began to develop the need for more complex machinery that could complete the task quicker and more efficiently that human manual labor could provide by itself. Two significant rises of the Industrial Revolution are the textile industry and steam power....
Words: 2162 - Pages: 9
...Assignment 1.2: Research Paper Industrialization after the Civil War Shana Dukes History 105 Professor Tracey M. Biagas February 3. 2014 Introduction Industrialization after the Civil War was a period where Industrial city were being built, there were jobs for people and the political aspect was having corruption. In this paper the main points in this paper discussed the major aspects of the Industrialization Revolution, such as groups that were affected by the Industrial society, and the affects the life of the average working American. While the Industrial Revolution was a great turning point in the history of mankind, it led humanity to great technological advancements, middle and lower class, African American rights, woman equal rights, and many others. Three Aspects of the Industrial Revolution Three major aspects of the Industrial Revolution during 1865 to 1920 influenced society, economy, and politics. Society was a major aspect of Industrialization because companies were being built, railways was distributing goods to different states (Arrington, 2013). Also, a lot of people were moving from the South and farm areas to the Northern urban areas. Iron and steel had become more vital to the Industrialization of America, and the United States was becoming more Industrialized and less agricultural (Gilder Lehrman Institute, 2009). The society worked in factories to earn money; they also worked at steel plants, and other jobs. Society played a major aspect...
Words: 1315 - Pages: 6
...The Industrial Revolution can be considered as one of the most significant watersheds in our human history. It was a result of the economic development and expansion that happened in the sixteenth century yet achieve a global presence in less than 250 years. It is axiomatic to say that the Industrial Revolution started independently in one place, to be more specific, it began in Britain with the invention of steam engine, new industrial landscapes in which iron and textiles which are the characteristics products of this revolution. The very name of Industrial Revolution also clearly depicted its relatively tardy impact on Europe. There will be two important questions to be explained in this paper which are the revolutionary changes resulted...
Words: 2210 - Pages: 9
...Assignment 1: Industrialization After the Civil War Thesis and Outline Thesis Topic: Industrialization after the Civil War was a major component in creating the advanced world we live in today. The industrial revolution connected America through transportation, leading to easier communication. It shifted how the process of business went about allowing productivity to skyrocket. Industrialization changed how the average person lived their life with their family and how they earned money to provide for that family. Political control was superseded by the wealthy. It shifted the majority of workers from agricultural positions to industrial ones. Finally, it urbanized American society, so that we could eventually become a super power of a nation. 1. Major Aspects of Industrialization a. Business and industrialization centered on the cities. The ever increasing number of factories created an intense need for labor, convincing people in rural areas to move to the city, and drawing immigrants from Europe to the United States. As a result, the United States transformed from an agrarian to an urban nation, and the demographics of the country shifted dramatically. b. Laissez-faire economics helped the country industrialize. Supporters of Laissez-faire believe that government should not interfere in the economy other than protect property rights and maintain peace. c. Industrialization brought us many technological advancements. A few of those were being...
Words: 597 - Pages: 3
...Industrial Revolution – A step to new era The Industrial Revolution, which took place from the 18th to 19th centuries, was a period during which predominantly agrarian, rural societies in Europe and America became industrial and urban. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 1700s, manufacturing was often done in people’s homes, using hand tools or basic machines. Industrialization marked a shift to powered, special-purpose machinery, factories and mass production. The iron and textile industries, along with the development of the steam engine, played central roles in the Industrial Revolution, which also saw improved systems of transportation, communication and banking. While industrialization brought about an increased volume and variety of manufactured goods and an improved standard of living for some, it also resulted in often grim employment and living conditions for the poor and working classes. The Industrial Revolution began over 200 years ago. It changed the way in which many products, including cloth and textiles, were manufactured. It is called a "revolution" beacuse the changes it caused were great and sudden. It greatly affected the way people lived and worked. This revolution helped to bring about the modern world we know today in many ways. The Industrial Revolution was a major change in the nature of production in which machines replaced tools and steam and other energy sources replaced human or animal power. The Industrial Revolution...
Words: 1010 - Pages: 5
...industrial revolution, a period of transition and innovation, inevitably brought with it changes. Life for both rich and poor was changed forever. A way of life in Europe was passing away, when the lord of the manor, independent farmers, servants and workers that had previously lived independently in a vertically integrated society were replaced by a city based society of segregated social classes. The population grew rapidly, and people found work in the factories of cities. The industrial revolution began in Britain, which filled all the requirements for it to happen. As an aftermath of 1688 and the “Glorious Revolution”, British kings lost much of their power and influence to aristocratic landowners, who in turn sought to bring their own lands under greater control. This is known as the Enclosure Movement. This lead to two very important consequences; the land became more productive, which in turn lead to the agricultural revolution, and people who used to work the lands of the aristocratic landowners effectively became a poor, unemployed, new class of society in need of work. It was this class of poor that manned and worked in the factories that the industrial revolution brought along with it. They were ideal for the job, because they were in desperate need of work and would work for low wages. Although they were mostly unskilled labourers, it didn’t matter much since the jobs at factories required little skill from the workers. So, the factories...
Words: 916 - Pages: 4
...Industrial Revolution The working conditions of the industrial workers would be outlawed in our era. It wasn’t till 1819 that hours were limited to 12 hours per day for children. And in 1874 no workers were allowed to work more than 56.6 hours per weak. But the most horrid encounter with the industrial workers is from the testimonies from workers in the industrial revolution. Based on the parliamentary testimonies in our handout, we can conclude that working conditions were horrible from the view of the worker; but seen from the employers and parents of workers, the views of working conditions were tolerable. (Working Conditions in the Industrial Revolution) A lot of atention went to children and women during this time. It wasn’t till 1847 that hours were minimized for women and children. The Factory Act of 1847 gave a “maximum of 10 hour work per day for women and children.” (Working Conditions in the Industrial...
Words: 1640 - Pages: 7
...The Industrial Revolution was a period of major industrilization that occured in the years between the late 1700s and the early 1800s. It began in Great Britain and slolwy exapanded its way into the United States. During the beginning of this era, it brought about inescapable , cultural and social changes in the United States. These changes affected the daily lives of Americans across the social spectrum in many ways. One of these ways was that it formed distinct classes. These classes included Economic Elites, The Middle Class and The Working Class. The Economic Elites was a class that consisted of wealthy merchants gained more social and political attention in the United States due to the fast growing economy that helped increase their wealth....
Words: 895 - Pages: 4
...Introduction Industrialization increased tremendously during the 18th and 19th century leading to the success growth of United States as far as overall wealth during the rise to power on its wake. This paper focuses on the different aspects of industrialization that occurred and the various groups that were affected during this period of time, and overall what the effect of industrialization did for America. Three Aspects of the Industrial Revolution Referred to commonly as the second Industrial Revolution, three major aspects during this time immensely played apart towards the shaping of our country as we know it and they were our society, the economy and our politics. Society was largely a big part of the industrialization period and underwent the most significant changes. Large amounts of rural to urban migration occurred due employment because of the creation of organizations and companies. The infrastructure and building of railway lines for transportation of raw materials to distinctive states was happening as well during this time. Significant use of iron and steel created several opportunities for industrialization versus agricultural hence making the United States more of an industrialized nation and less agricultural. Our economy at the time played a major role at this time, and was the second aspect of industrialization. During this time rapid growth in society was experienced with the expansion of companies and the improvement of their internal progression....
Words: 1334 - Pages: 6
...Two of the Most Significant Social Consequences of the Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution had a dramatic impact on social systems and not all were positive. However, two of the enduring and positive social consequences of the Industrial Revolution for the common man were the overall improvement in the standard of living and the advancement of education. With the exception of Russia in the nineteenth century, major countries which experienced an Industrial Revolution also experienced a dramatic growth in the middle class. Prior to the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, most countries had a small ruling class with the majority of the population made up of serfs or peasants. The development of a middle class comprised of merchants, traders, investors and artisans had begun in the Middle-Ages, but was limited to a small minority. Poverty was the experience of the masses, and still is the standard for the majority of people in underdeveloped nations. The mechanization and automation of tasks that had formerly been labor intensive, increased production of goods and provided a broader choice of employment opportunities. These new employment opportunities for unskilled or uneducated workers provided a higher income than had previously been available to them in an agrarian society and eventually created a broader stratus between the upper and lower classes. Industrialization gave rise to a growing middle class with more disposable income and a desire for modern housing...
Words: 1241 - Pages: 5
...How the Industrial Revolution Transformed American Transportation of products Christopher Lewis Writing Assignment 1 HIS300 American History 30 October 2015 How did the Industrial Revolution transform America? The answer to this question will vary from person to person but, the truth is that it transformed America in many different ways to include urbanization, immigration, transportation of materials and goods, changing role of women in the home and workplace, and the education of middle and working class people. The Effects of urbanization during the Industrial Revolution Prior to the Industrial Revolution families worked together on farms as well as doing the chores around the home. Men who were the head of the household did their trade and trained their older sons...
Words: 663 - Pages: 3
...The Industrial Revolution – the Factory Worker vs. the Plantation Worker: A Discussion of the Labor Conditions The Industrial Revolution was a period of great change in Europe and North America – a period where progress in agriculture, technology, transportation and more allowed the development of human civilization from the previous primarily agricultural based societies. This time period between the 18th to 19th century saw many developments such as canals, roads, steam power, combustion engine, as well as significant strides in manufacturing and factory work. Immense changes occurred in society: affecting daily life and causing significant societal impacts. The objective of this paper is to discuss the significant social effects that the Industrial Revolution (and industrialization, in general) – focusing on the working conditions and dynamic of plantations and factories. In this time period, it is evident that the employer, business owner, and middle class factory owner would benefit from the lower class, general laborer who would be unfairly compensated and be subject to poor conditions, creating a significant gap between the upper/middle and lower classes. The period of the Industrial Revolution was not only a driving force in technology, but economics and society. Industrialization brought a new form of wealth and riches to the people who were able to capitalize on it; this largely being the middle class, and to a smaller extent, the upper class. New opportunities...
Words: 1401 - Pages: 6
...The Industrial Revolution The term Industrial Revolution refers to the social and economic changes that led to the transition from an agricultural and commercial society to a modern industrial one. This revolution relied on machinery instead of basic tools. This happened in Great Britain in the middle of the 18th century until the middle of the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution spread to other parts of Europe as well as other parts of the world. The period of explorations from the 14th to the 16th centuries helped in laying the foundations for the Industrial Revolution. Because of the explorations and subsequently colonialism, gold and silver from the New World flooded Europe. Prices of commodities rose, industries bloomed and a money-based economy fully developed. The expansion of trade and the economy based on money led to the creation of financial and lending institutions. Thus, the necessary factors for the emergence of an Industrial Revolution had already been established in the 15thcentury. The term Industrial revolution does not imply that changes happened only in the industry. In fact, the rise in the number of factories, the economic changes and the new inventions in science all had a great impact in the lives of the people in Europe and even the whole world. THE RISE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN GREAT BRITAIN From the 18th to the 19th centuries, Great Britain was the leading force in industry. It had large deposits of coal and iron. Because...
Words: 2414 - Pages: 10