History Class 11: Modern Industrialisation In Britain

Introduction

George Michelet in France and Friedrich Engles in Germany referred to this period as the Industrial Revolution.Factories began producing goods instead of doing so manually in households, which caused a change in the field of industries.The First Industrial Revolution transformed Britain’s economy and industry between the 1780s and 1850s.The latter half of the eighteenth century saw a radical change in how production was organised.

Why was Modern Industrialisation required in Britain?

England, Wales, and Scotland had been united under a monarchy since the seventeenth century, ensuring political stability. It had a single currency and a single legal system that local governments didn’t fragment. The early stages of the Industrial Revolution were aided by England’s control over a huge international and domestic market.Many cities in Europe grew in both population and area from the late 18th century onward. Many cities in Europe doubled their population between 1750 and 1800. The UK’s capital was home to the second-largest market, located close to London. Furthermore, London accelerated its globalisation.Raw materials like coal and iron ore were important in the early stages of industrial development. It was Abraham Darby who invented the blast furnace in 1709. The first iron bridge was built at the beginning of the 18th century.During the eighteenth century, England underwent a revolution in agriculture, dubbed the ‘agricultural revolution. This way, larger landowners acquire small farms near their properties and enclose the village commons. The agricultural revolution became the foundation of the industrial revolution.

Consequences of the industrial revolution

Positive Effects

The textile industry was one of the major factor contributing to early industrialisation which led to:

(a) Invention of Machines in Cotton Industry: The flying shuttle loom was invented by John Kay in 1733, revolutionising the textile industry.

(b) Increased Production 

(c) Introducing railways and canals: These railroads and steam power contributed to the industrialisation of the world as well.

A little context on Steam Engines and Canals

Thomas Savery constructed models of steam engines in 1698, one called Miner’s Friend. The 1712 steam engine built by Thomas Newcomen was another steam engine. The steam engine was used primarily in coal mines until James Watt developed the first perfect steam engine in 1769, establishing the Soho Foundry in Birmingham.James Brindley built the first English Canal in 1761. In the period between 1788 and 1796, there was a canal mania.The first steam locomotive appeared in 1814 when Stephenson’s Rocket was introduced.

A Puffing Devil and a puffer were created by inventor Richard Trevithick in 1801 and 1814, respectively.There was a connection between Stockton and Darlington on the First railway line. A ‘little railway mania’ took place between 1833 and 1837, followed by the ‘biggest railway mania’ from 1844 to 1847.However, In the 1830s, there were several canal problems. Some canals were congested with vessels and could only be used when frost, floods or droughts interfered. In response, the railway system was created as an economical and convenient means of transport. The British railway network expanded rapidly from 1830 to 1850, with most tracks constructed in two short periods. The ‘little railway mania’ lasted from 1833 to 1937, and the ‘big railroad mania’ ran from 1844 to 1947.

Changed life

Some wealthy individuals invested their money in industries, hoping that the investments would grow and make profits. Often, this money – capital – increased in value, bringing profits. Nevertheless, the amount of wealth, manifested in goods, incomes, services, knowledge and production efficiency, did increase dramatically.Over the past two centuries, there are now 29 English cities with over 50,000, an increase of two since 1750. Housing, sanitation, and clean water could not keep up with growth for this rapidly growing urban population.

Negative Effects

(a) Conditions of workers: There were many negative effects at the same time. The resulting problems of broken families, new addresses, rundown cities, and horrible factory working conditions led to the breakdown of families. Conditions at their factories were terrible. They experienced epidemics, and their workers were unable to do their work.

(b) Children and women worked in factories during the Industrial Revolution, when many changed how children and women worked. The meagre wages of men had to be supplemented by the earnings of women and children. Workers were viewed as training for future factory work by factory managers.

(c) Protest Movement

Industrialisation generally has been associated with greater prosperity for some, but in its early stages, millions of people, including women and children, suffered from poor living and working conditions. There followed demonstrations, which led to legislation to regulate working conditions. During the Luddism movement, there were battles for workers affected by new machines (1811-17). A charismatic general led the army. During the revolution, participants called for a minimum wage, the control of women and children’s work, employment on behalf of workers who lost their jobs due to the introduction of machinery, and the right to form a trade union to meet these demands be legally made.In response, the government suppressed the protesters and passed laws restricting their rights. In addition to passing two combination acts, the Puritans were supportive of Corn Laws, which led to this. Children began working in coal mines after the Act of 1833 was enacted.

Conclusion

Since the seventeenth century, Britain has had political stability with a single currency, a common law system, and a single market unfragmented by local governments. It controlled domestic and international markets, which resulted in the Industrial Revolution gaining traction fast in England. Furthermore, Abraham Darby invented the blast furnace in 1709 and coal and the iron ore as important raw materials. At this time, the world’s first iron bridge was erected. When the Bank of England was founded in 1694, a bank was established for the first time in 1794. Aside from its global significance, London was also the centre of many countries’ markets, while the next largest was nearby.