Intro
Due to the importance of Britain in the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, this subject will be discussing only the conditions of Britain and the development occurred there during the Industrial Revolution.
The first industrial Revolution, that occurred in Great Britain in the latter half of the 18th century, represented a sudden acceleration of technological and economical development which would permeate all levels of the British society. It was a radical transformation of many different aspects of British social and economic life. Specifically, the traditional agrarian economy was supplanted by one based on manufacturing and machinery.
Very much an urban movement, the revolution gave rise to a new system of social class, based primarily upon the relationship of the industrial capitalist to the factory worker.
Undoubtedly, the burgeoning increasing population and established political system provided an apt environment for revolution, and altogether would provide both a larger work force and expanding markets, a strong middle class, and stability in both the political environment and the monetary system. Other factors that strengthened and supported that great revolution were the extraordinary technological innovations within a few industries. Within the smelting industry, for instance, the production of new materials, namely iron and steel, would allow for stronger, more complex machinery. Coupled with the invention of James Watt's steam engine in the 1780s, these innovations laid the groundwork for massive technological progress that would in turn pave the way for those significant social and economic changes.
Great Britain and the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was one of the most vital periods of the radical change that occurred in the history of Great Britain, it occurred because of the stable economic, social, and political stance of the country, moreover, it brought lasting effects in Britain in all fields and areas. With its fast growing monopoly on ocean trade, its renewed interest in scientific discovery, and its system of national banks holding tight to its financial security, Britain was, at the time of the Industrial Revolution, ripe for change. It was the great historical epoch that is called the Industrial Revolution which would forever change city life, social class structure, the power of the British nation amongst others of the world, the production of machinery, and the strength of the economy of Britain. Because of the Industrial Revolution, never again would the British have to suffer the results of no changes regarding the inequalities of the working world, nor doubt the strength of their country, yet come to view the word "technology" in a completely new way.
Because of the sturdy financial and economic conditions, Great Britain was the leading nation in the Industrial Revolution. Its domination of the seas with a strong military force gave it control of ocean transportation and trade and that domination was supported by and attributed to the ongoing British trade of tobacco, sugar, tea, and slaves, in addition to the British national banking system and surplus of finances which boosted Britain commercially on the international scale. New inventions at that time included George Stephenson’s Rocket railway train, along with innovations such as Henry Bessemer's renovation of steel production , as well as Abraham Darby’s thought to use coal instead of charcoal in order to create fuel. Each of these improvements helped in both the production and transportation of products and materials used for trade and in industrial factories.
Other new developments included the seed drill and other devices that greatly increased farm production in Britain, promoting the growth and trade of the country. The improved cultivation of healthier fruits, vegetables, and other foods grown on British farms using the new inventions bettered the health and growth of the population, which meant there were more workers to help run industrial factories. Great Britain was also rich in natural resources such as water and coal which provided a big ample source of energy supply for trains, factories, steam ships, and other devices that increased transportation. The American colonies of Britain played an important role in providing the country with such vital raw materials as well as unemployed farm workers which enabled Britain to have strong labor force in cities. An increase in the number of workers in industry meant that factories could run more efficiently and produce more goods than ever before, helping in the manufacture for a much greater amount of new machinery.
The industrial revolution in Great Britain has yielded plenty of positive outcomes which rivaled the damage of its more negative effects. Britain obtained much capital from its many new international trading ventures with major nations, all largely dealing with the exchange of new and improved industrial machinery. Hence, Great Britain grew to become the most powerful manufacturing nation, and the strongest economically, in all of Europe. As Britain’s incoming finances grew and increased, citizens were able to prosper and get higher socially and financially in British society, thus improving their educational statuses. Alongside new inventions came exciting discoveries in medicine, providing for better treatments of diseases and thus promoting the overall health of British society.
Electricity was used instead of gas power to light city street lamps. This increased the efficiency of streetlight in Britain, as well as lessened the fire hazard gas lamps had proposed. Better lit cities also contributed to a decreased urban crime rate. Also, the new use of electric engines in cars improved the rate of transportation in British cities, as well as decreased the pollution level formerly heightened by older engines, which had created many fumes.
With city populations growing due to the progress of industry, new water systems including sewage networks that provided running water at homes to improve the sanitary living conditions in the city. Public education also developed to guarantee a good level of education for all British citizens, not only the wealthy and upper class. Because of the increased production of machinery which further forwarded industrial advances in technology, the products of city factories became cheaper and more available. Thus, the theory of capitalism developed and became more salable, in which British factory owners, and other businessmen worked to increase Britain’s production of goods, promoting more international commerce for Britain and supporting an increase in profits on Britain’s industrial goods. The development of new machinery in factories added to the safety of working there decreased the need for so many workers to labor for strenuous hours.
And at the end we can see that because of Britain’s national economic, political, and social state with the burgeoning population, the country was ready to surmount on its shoulders the immense change of the Industrial Revolution. The production of new materials such as iron and steel allowed stronger, more complex machinery that paved the way for those significant social and economic changes. Massive contribution were also from broad changes with society, and extraordinary technological innovations within industries, promoting more modern outlook on life, self-improvement in the workplace, and proving the benefits of a futuristic way of thinking. The Industrial Revolution caused the people of Britain to turn away from the past, and instead to look toward improvements in their way of life which would last through upcoming years. Considering all these pillars and factors, the Industrial Revolution was, indeed, revolutionary absolutely.
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