Industrial Revolution

Industrial Revolution was a significant era in World History that transformed economies from agriculture-based to industrial-based systems. It introduced machines, factories, and modern transportation, leading to profound social and economic changes.

Previous year Questions

Year	Question	Marks
2023	The European industrial revolution finally gave rise to New Imperialism. Explain.	10M
2021	Industrial Revolution was not only a technological revolution, but a socio-economicrevolution also, that changed the way people lived afterwards. Discuss.	10M

Industrial Revolution

The transition from manual, home-based production to machine-driven, factory-based production during the mid-18th century is known as the Industrial Revolution. 

• Factory System: The center of production shifted from homes to factories.
• Revolution: It was termed a revolution because it not only reformed the economic realm but also significantly impacted the social and political spheres of society.

Reason:

1. Rise of Capitalism After End of Feudalism: Desire for profit by increasing production (e.g., expansion of textile mills).
2. Renaissance and Reformation Led to Scientific Revolution: More inventions and discoveries (e.g., James Watt’s steam engine, Galileo’s telescope)
3. Rise of World Trade and Growth of Cities: Increased demand for goods and services (e.g., demand for cotton and tea in Britain).
4. Colonialism and Imperialism: Exploitation of colonies for raw materials and markets (e.g., cotton from India, sugar from the Caribbean).

Britain as the Epicentre

• Britain: First country to industrialize.

Factors:

• Geographical Factors:
  • Good network of tributaries → Easy transportation (e.g., River Thames).
  • Island status → Natural barrier from invasion, ensuring peace (e.g., protection during Napoleonic Wars).
  • Excellent natural harbours → Sea ports and sea trade (e.g., Liverpool and London).
  • Close proximity of iron and coal mines (e.g., Midlands region).
• Large Colonial Empire:
  • Access to raw materials like cotton and profits for reinvestment (e.g., cotton from India).
• Glorious Revolution of 1688:
  • Rise of capitalism, political stability, and encouragement of scientific inventions (e.g., establishment of the Royal Society).
• Availability of Capital:
  • Internal (Banking system – Bank of England established in 1694) and external (Drain of wealth from colonies, e.g., Bengal).
• Enclosure Movement:
  • Disappearance of serfdom → Large army of landless, unemployed laborers (e.g., shift from rural farming to urban factories).
• Other Factors:
  • Managed production according to demand (e.g., production of textiles in Manchester).
  • Population growth → Larger workforce (e.g., British population doubled between 1750 and 1850).
  • Non-interference by local authorities in the market system (e.g., laissez-faire policies).
• Unique British Advantages:
  • No other country enjoyed these advantages at this time.
  • Russia: Unfavorable political system (e.g., serfdom lasted until 1861).
  • Japan: Lack of raw materials (e.g., imported raw cotton).
  • Italy and Germany: Not yet united (e.g., Italy united in 1861, Germany in 1871).

Component of Industrial Revolution

Beginning of textile Revolution 

• Earlier, cotton clothes were imported from India.
• East India Company (EIC) → Imported raw cotton from colonies → Started manufacturing clothes in England.
• Old manufacturing methods persisted → Less production to meet growing demand.

Major Innovations:

• Flying Shuttle (1733):
  • Invented by British weaver John Kay → Enabled faster weaving.
• Spinning Jenny (1764):
  • Invented by James Hargreaves → Allowed simultaneous spinning of multiple threads, significantly boosting productivity.
• Water Frame (1769):
  • Developed by Richard Arkwright → Water-powered spinning machine that produced finer and stronger yarn.
• Power Loom (1785):
  • Innovated by Edmund Cartwright → Automated the weaving process.
  • Driven by a steam engine → Enhancing fabric production efficiency.
• Cotton Gin (1793):
  • Invented by Eli Whitney → Mechanized the separation of cotton fibers from seeds → revolutionised  cotton processing.
• Steam Engine:
  • Provided  an efficient energy source.
• Factory System:
  • Integrated machines and labor under one roof → Transformed production methods, increasing output.
• Mechanical Combing and Carding Machines:
  • Improved the preparation of raw fibers, making them more suitable for spinning.
• Rotary Printing Press (1785):
  • Invented by Robert Barclay → Facilitated mass production of printed fabrics.

Trick to Remember 👍

First Second floor par WPC ki Jali badi khas hai  (FS WPC → KHACE)

• F → K (Flying shuttle – KAY)
• S → H (Spinning Jenny – HERGREAVES)
• W → A (Water frame -> Arkwright)
• P→ C (Power loom – Cartwright)
• C → E (Cotton gin – Eli Whitney)

Transport and Communication Revolution

• Macadamized Roads:
  • John Macadam (Scotland) developed the method for making permanent roads.
• Canalization:
  • The Worsley Canal (Bridgewater Canal), built in 1761 by James Brindley, was the first canal in England. It connected coal mines to industrial areas.
  • Canal Mania (1788-1796) saw a boom in canal construction.
  • Suez Canal (1869) by Ferdinand de Lesseps, connected the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. It shortened the route between India and Europe.
  • The Erie Canal (USA) connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River.
• Railways:
  • In 1814, George Stephenson developed the steam-operated rail engine (Stephenson’s Rocket) to transport coal from mines to ports by railway.
  • In 1830, the first railway train began carrying passengers and freight from Liverpool to Manchester.
  • This led to a wave of railroad construction in Britain and the USA.
    • Britain:During the ‘little railway mania’ of 1833-37, 1400 miles of line was built, and during the bigger ‘mania’ of 1844-47, another 9,500 miles of line was sanctioned.
    • The first railway in India was introduced in 1853 under Lord Dalhousie, connecting Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane.
• Steamships:
  • Steam-powered ships revolutionized maritime transport by enabling faster, more reliable sea journeys compared to wind-powered ships. 
• Communication:
  • Telegraph: Morse Code was used for electrical telegraph lines.
  • Telephone: Invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.

Agricultural Revolution:

• Impact of the Industrial Revolution: As cities grew during the Industrial Revolution, demand for food increased.
• Farm Mechanisation:
  • Steel Plough: Invented by John Deere in 1837 →  it made ploughing faster and easier.
  • Harrow: Used to smooth the soil after ploughing.
  • Jethro Tull’s Seed Drill: Invented in 1701, it planted seeds in rows → boosted crop yields.
  • Cyrus McCormick’s Mechanical Reaper: Invented in 1831, it made harvesting grain quicker and more efficient.
• Crop Rotation:
  • Charles Townshend introduced the practice of crop rotation, particularly a four-field rotation involving wheat, turnips, barley, and clover. 
  • It helped in restoring soil nutrients and increased productivity.
• Land Consolidation:
  • Proposed by Arthur Young (in Annals of Agriculture). 
  • It encouraged the conversion of small, scattered fields into large farms to enhance productivity.
• Enclosure Movement:
  • The Enclosure Acts privatized common lands, turning them into enclosed farms → it made farming more efficient.

New technical changes in iron industry

As demand for iron increased, old labor-intensive techniques became insufficient.

• Coke burning blast furnace (1709 A.D.):
  • Abraham Darby invented the first coke-burning blast furnace, using coke instead of charcoal. This made iron casting and purification more efficient.
• Second Darby’s Advancements:
  • He developed a method to mold cast iron into hammered iron, making it less brittle and more durable for industrial use.
• Henry Cort’s Puddling Process :
  • It improved the quality of iron. 
  • However, machines made from this iron were still heavy and prone to rust.
• Invention of Steel:
  • Steel was created by purifying iron and adding carbon, manganese, and other materials, resulting in a lighter, stronger, and rust-free material.
• Henry Bessemer’s Innovation (1856 A.D.):
  • Bessemer’s process allowed direct steel production from cast iron, reducing both time and cost.

Changes Due to the Invention of Steam Power:

• New machines needed new power sources. Hydel and wind power were used initially, but had limitations.
• Steam power was first used in mining to remove water from mines. Thomas Newcomen invented the first steam engine in 1712. His engine used too much power and couldn’t remove deep water.
• In 1769, James Watt improved the engine, making it cheaper and more efficient. Watt’s steam engine gave factories easier and better access to power.
• Steam-Powered Trains:
  • ‘Stefan’s Rocket’ built in 1814, was one of the first steam engines for trains.
  • Richard Trevithick →’Puffing Devil’ steam engine.
  • George Stephenson →  ‘Blucher’ engine.
  • By 1830, railways connected Liverpool and Manchester, making the transport of coal, iron, and goods faster and cheaper.

Results of the Industrial Revolution

Economic Results:

1. Extraordinary Growth in Production and Commerce:  
   • Britain was responsible for more than half of the world’s coal and iron production by 1850.
2. Economic Balance:
   • The rise of industrial capitalism led to a shift in wealth distribution from landowners (agriculture-based) to industrial capitalists. 
3. Development of Cities: 
   • Cities like Manchester and Birmingham grew rapidly as industrial hubs.
4. Destruction of Cottage Industries: 
   • Traditional hand-weaving industries in India collapsed as British textiles flooded Indian markets.
5. Development of Banking and Currency:
   • Institutions like the Bank of England played key roles in funding industrial growth.
6. Protection of National Markets: 
   • Britain imposed tariffs on imported goods to protect its domestic industries from foreign competition, particularly from India and China.
7. Development of Industrial Capitalism:
   • Economic power became concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy industrialists, creating shocking social inequalities.
   • A wide gap developed between capitalists and the rest of the population.
   • The rise of “Captains of Industry” like Andrew Carnegie in the U.S
8. Agricultural Revolution and Enclosure:  
   • Land was enclosed into larger and more efficient farms but displaced small farmers.

Social Results

1. Fall of Moral Values:
   • Exploitation of workers:  Long working hours, poor working conditions, and child labor became widespread issues.
   • Factory owners saw child labour as essential for future factory training.
2. Scattering of Joint Family Systems:  
   • As people moved to cities for factory jobs, the traditional joint family system began to disintegrate. 
3. Attack on Slavery System: 
   • Industries sought free labor markets rather than reliance on forced labor.
4. Liberation of Women: 
   • Industrialization led to the entry of women into the workforce.
5. Emergence of a New Middle Class: 
   • A new middle class of industrialists, factory owners, and professionals emerged.
6. Crowding of People into Cities – Problem of Slums: 
   • Rapid urbanization led to overcrowded slums, poor sanitation, and the spread of diseases. Epidemics like cholera were common in overcrowded industrial cities.
7. Increase in Population: 
   • Industrialization led to improved healthcare and living conditions, resulting in rapid population growth.

Political Results: 

1. Beginning of Pax Britannica: 
   • Within 50 years, England had become the world’s leading industrial nation. 
   • It produced sufficient coal, pig iron, and textiles for both domestic consumption and export. 
   • Tariff: England gained complete control over the world market by imposing tariffs to protect its emerging industries.
2. Demand for Democracy in Politics:
   • The rise of the middle and working classes led to demands for political rights and democratic representation.
   • Example: The Chartist movement in Britain advocated for workers’ right to vote.
3. Beginning of Colonial Rivalries and Race for Raw Materials:
   • Industrial nations competed for colonies to secure raw materials and new markets.
   • Example: The “Scramble for Africa” was a direct result of this.
4. Rise of Labour Movements:
   • Luddism (1811-17): Led by General Ned Ludd, workers protested against the effects of machinery, demanding minimum wages, work for the unemployed, and control over women’s and children’s labour. They also wanted the right to form trade unions.
   • Reform Laws:
     • Child Labour Laws (1819): Children under nine were prohibited from working in factories. 
     • Ten Hours’ Bill (1847): Limited working hours for women and young people to 10 hours a day.

Ideological Results

1. Rise of Economic Liberalism:
   • Industrialization promoted economic liberalism, which advocated for free markets, private property, and minimal government intervention.
   • Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations laid the foundation for free-market capitalism during this period.
2. Rise of Socialism:
   • In response to worker exploitation, socialism emerged as a counter-ideology advocating for collective ownership of the means of production.
   • Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ Communist Manifesto (1848) criticized the social inequalities of capitalism.

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