Overview
This lecture covers the Industrial Revolution, highlighting its major technological advancements, social impacts, and the resulting changes in work, industry, and society.
The First Industrial Revolution (Britain)
- The Industrial Revolution began in Britain (1760sā1840s) with advances in manufacturing and technology.
- Manufacturing shifted from hand-made goods to production using large machinery.
- Inventions like the water frame, spinning jenny, and spinning mule revolutionized the textile industry.
- New methods for producing higher-quality iron expanded the steel industry.
- James Watt improved the steam engine, powering factories and new transportation methods.
Spread and the Second Industrial Revolution (United States)
- Britain tried to keep their machinery secret but technology spread to other countries.
- Samuel Slater brought textile manufacturing knowledge to the U.S., starting the Second Industrial Revolution.
- Textile factories grew rapidly in U.S. cities, especially in the North.
Technological Advancements
- Agricultural inventions included the cotton gin, McCormick reaper, steel-tipped plow, and thresher.
- Railroads, roads, and canals enabled much faster travel across countries.
- The telegraph (using Morse code) and Alexander Graham Bell's telephone improved communication.
Social Impacts and Labor Conditions
- Factory work often involved long hours, low pay, and dangerous conditions, especially for women and children.
- Child labor was common, with children performing hazardous tasks for little pay.
- Urban centers became crowded, polluted, and lacked basic sanitation and safe water.
- The use of enslaved labor increased, especially in U.S. agriculture, with numbers rising from 500,000 in 1790 to over 3 million by the mid-1800s.
Reform Movements
- Labor unions formed to fight for workers' rights and better working conditions.
- Child labor laws were enacted in response to exploitation.
- The abolitionist and women's rights movements gained momentum during this period.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Industrial Revolution ā a period of rapid industrial growth and technological innovation, mainly from the 1760s to the 1800s.
- Manufacture ā making goods using machines and large-scale processes.
- Textile industry ā the industry related to cloth and clothing production.
- Steam engine ā a machine that uses steam to generate power, key to factories and transportation.
- Labor union ā an organized group of workers formed to protect their rights and interests.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key technological inventions and their inventors.
- Reflect on the social consequences of industrialization.
- Prepare for questions on the differences between the first and second Industrial Revolutions.