Essay On The Industrial Revolution

Srijana Chhetri

Mr. Wesney

Honors World History

Dec.18, 2013

Industrial Revolution in England

The Industrial Revolution began in England towards the late 17th century. It started in the United Kingdom and was driven by a technology system based on water power and steam engines, cotton, textiles, ironworking, river transport, and canals. These inventions made it possible to send heavy commodities such as coal, iron, wool, grain and so forth from one end of the world to another (Henderson 1, The Industrial... 1815-1914). Inventors of new machines were honored and inventions of new technology were encouraged during this time period. Ordinary working people found increased opportunities for work within the new mills and factories, but these were always accompanied by strict working conditions with long hours of labor, and often involved young children and women. The Industrial Revolution replaced an economy based on agriculture with one based on industry and manufacturing. One of the most important changes was the continuous expansion of the population and the economy. Most observers in the 18th century did not believe that expansion of the population and the economy could be sustained indefinitely. Thomas Malthus argued that population naturally grows faster than the food supply, and, therefore, malnutrition, famine, and disease would correct the imbalance (Trebilcock 397-398). However, this did not take place because of the continued expansion of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution also gave an advantage to the government because the states in Europe issued tariffs to gain money, and as big companies emerged, they were required to register with the government and publish an annual budget. The societies during this ...

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...e to the lack of better medicines. We could still be using subsistence agriculture to feed our family rather than commercial agriculture. Every human being on this earth should appreciate the fact that this event occurred because it has made their life so much easier and better compared to the life before the pre- industrial time. Even if some other huge revolution had occurred, instead of the Industrial Revolution, it would never be able to bring the same impact that this revolution was able to bring. The Industrial Revolution allowed people to save time with the new inventions, and also created more interactions in the global world with trade. There is no doubt that it was one of the most influential time periods of human history and most responsible for propelling society into the modern economies that we still have in place today.