Herrmann, M.
05/07/2012

A. 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, clothes and modes of transportation. This increased demand for goods and services created a market for expanded production which in turn fueled economic growth which benefited all social classes.
A second significant social consequence resulting from the Industrial Revolution was an increase in literacy and educational opportunities for the masses.