Lecture Notes: The Industrial Revolution and Its Impact

Introduction

• Topic: The Industrial Revolution's transformative impact on the world.
• Significance: Marks the last unit of the AP Human Geography course.

Origin of the Industrial Revolution

• Timeframe: Mid 1700s to 1800s
• Location: Started in England
• Contributing Factors:
  • Growing workforce
  • Access to raw resources (coal, iron)
  • Access to new capital
  • New inventions and technology (e.g., steam engine)

Technological Innovations

• Steam Engine:
  • Revolutionized production and trade.
  • Enabled faster and longer-distance travel for ships.
  • Facilitated rail transport (e.g., Transcontinental Railroad in the USA).
• Textile Industry:
  • Spinning Jenny: Spinned several spools of thread simultaneously.
  • Power Loom: Enabled mass production of textiles.
  • Resulted in reduced costs, increased affordability, and higher output.

Impact on Industries

• Cottage Industries:
  • Small-scale, home-based production.
  • Declined due to mass production capabilities of larger factories.

Social and Economic Impacts

• Social Classes:
  • Rise of the middle class.
  • New opportunities for social mobility due to factory jobs.
• Working Conditions:
  • Many faced long hours, low wages, and poor conditions.
  • Exploitation of the working class in urban areas.
• Demographic Changes:
  • Introduction of stage two in demographic transition model.
  • Population growth due to decreased mortality and high birth rates.

Migration Patterns

• Shift from rural to urban due to economic opportunities in cities.
• Increase in workforce and consumer base.

Agricultural Changes

• Mechanization: Reduced human labor, increased farm output.
• Transportation Improvements: Enabled broader market access for farmers.
• Enclosure Movement: Increased efficiency and urbanization.

Influence on Colonialism and Imperialism

• Colonial Expansion: Driven by need for resources and markets.
• Berlin Conference (Scramble for Africa): Division of Africa by European powers.
• Colonial Impact: Infrastructure and political systems aimed at resource extraction.

Legacy of the Industrial Revolution

• Positive Outcomes:
  • Improved standard of living.
  • Greater food surplus.
  • Expanded global interactions.
• Negative Outcomes:
  • Increased inequality and uneven economic development.

Conclusion

• The Industrial Revolution was a major turning point that altered the global socio-economic landscape.
• Next Steps: Practice questions provided for further understanding.
• Call to Action: Consider subscribing and utilizing additional resources for AP Human Geography.