The Industrial Revolution: Objectives Learn the causes and consequences of the industrial revolution To place the European Industrial revolution in a global context Examine why Britain “took off” first Positive and negative effects must be examined Industrial strength led to economic domination and economic imperialism over non-industrialized neighbors and trade partners

Significance of the Industrial Revolution Gandhi (an Indian independence leader) criticized the industrial revolution as exploitation on a large scale. Few have agreed with this. Since the industrial revolution started in Great Britain in the late 18th century, every society has embraced at least the ideas that industrialization is progress Most significant of many developments leading to modern Europe Period from 1750 to 1900 saw utter transformation of European economies, landscapes, values, and expectations Global dominance for Europe; a most fundamental change in human ways of living

How It Came About Europe was undergoing energy and population crises in the mid 18th century Began development of non-renewable energy sources such as coal Impact on environment: changed landscape through mining; created new styles of waste products such as industrial output; coal smoke polluted the air; some people were opposed to this. But, the majority of people who had a say were not The industrial revolution increased output of goods and services by 50 times Great Britain from 1750 to1900

How it came about Introduces a culture of innovation Prior to 1800 Eurasian societies were technologically equal; after 1800 this changed drastically Most important tech breakthrough in early IR is the steam engine Starting with the textile industry, the application of steam spread to transportation, other industrial processes, and agriculture Movement of goods sped up; more were created; prices fell; and more could enjoy them Britain to Western Europe to the United States to Russia and Japan by 1900

Why did this happen in Europe? There is no agreement among historians, economists, or social theorists about by industrialization appeared in Britain when it did Perhaps there was some unique feature of that European society that explain it This view has been challenged but not disproved as we know technology and science have flourished in other areas, that Europe so far as we know had no prior claim to economic advantage, and that industrial society has spread world wide in the time since. However, none of these addresses the issue of why Britain? Why Europe?

Why Europe? The industrial revolution is seen today as an unexpected eruption of change in a relatively short period of time. This is one way of saying “we don’t know why” So why? Some patterns of internal European development favored innovation such as plentiful resources of fuel, a workforce begin pushed out of agriculture, an upper class with money and investment methods useful to large scale industries European rulers, more than others, has close and necessary connections to merchant classes Development of market based economies although other areas also had these such as Japan, India, and China

Why Europe? Europe was as the center of the most varied trade and exchange network on the planet. Europe, unlike India, Japan, or China, had and maintained contact with other cultures; this could and most likely did contribute to innovation and change within Europe itself Europe also had a source of raw materials for production, a source for food to feed its growing population, and source for new markets for its products: the Americas. No other Eurasian society had the variety of outlets available nor did the others seek these things

Why Britain? Most commercialized of Europe’s larger countries Small farmers had been pushed off the land by the enclosure movement. Created ample supply of labor with few alternatives to industrializing when it started Agricultural market was commercial: use of fertilizer and other techniques increased output lessening need for farmers Guilds (which tended to impede industrialization) were weak or disappeared in Great Britain British aristocrats unlike continental or Asian were interested in commerce and making money. Source of investment for creating necessary capital

Why Britain? British political society encouraged innovation and commercialization British commerce was worldwide and growing in value every year. Large markets existed if they could be exploited Policy of religious toleration: people of all faiths welcomed to migrate to Britain British government imposed taxes on foreign goods to protect its businessmen and industries It was easy to form companies and exclude workers unions Unified internal market due to roads, canals, and no internal tariffs

Why Britain? Inventors could use patent law to gain full value from there inventions and protect their interests Since Parliament ruled and not the monarch, private interests rather than royal favor gave more room to private enterprise than in more absolutist states such as France Emphasis of scientific revolution was different in Britain: In Europe-logic, deduction, and mathematical reasoning ruled. In Britain- observation and experiment, measurement, mechanical devices, machines and practical applications

Why Britain Artisan/Craftsmen were in close contact with scientists and entrepreneurs (people who dare to take risks to do new things). This joining of mind and craft were very important to practical application of new science and tech to the real world The British Royal Society founded in 1660 took the role of promoting useful knowledge or we might say, promising developments that could make the world better Lots of coal and iron ore, usually close to centers where it could be processed. Britain did not suffer from invasion or devastation in the Napoleonic wars. British society was flexible enough to change without political or social revolution

Conclusion There are no clear answers to the question of why the industrial revolution took off in Europe, specifically Britain. We have looked at some reasons that might be useful in determining the causes. What is indisputable is that it did occur here. Many times in history that is all we can say for sure. Much of the rest will depend on whether you agree, disagree, like or dislike either the event or the outcome. And that is personal and not history.