In Our Time Consequences of the Industrial Revolution
Dec 30, 2010
A discussion on the dire consequences of the Industrial Revolution, including urbanization, wealth disparity, and resistance to new technologies. Delving into the unprecedented population growth in Britain, impact on living standards, educational disparities, and contrasting views on the era. Exploring literature's portrayal of the North-South divide during industrialization.
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Two Phases of Industrial Revolution
- The Industrial Revolution involved a slow 18th-century growth phase followed by a rapid 19th-century technological surge.
- It reshaped labour from agriculture to manufacturing and enabled sustained economic growth and urbanization.
Population Growth Defies Old Limits
- Britain's population doubled twice between 1750 and 1870, growing without triggering traditional crises like famine.
- This unprecedented growth indicated profound economic changes associated with the Industrial Revolution.
New Urban Social Structures Emerge
- Urban life cramped workers physically but offered new social structures like trade unions and religious communities.
- Non-conformist religion provided urban workers with community and softened the alienation of city living.