Chosen To Answer Question 2: “Of all the revolutions discussed in the course (American, French, Scientific, Industrial, Bolshevik, etc), which one has had the greatest impact (economic, social, and political) on humanity?”
The Industrial Revolution: A Transformative Force in Human History
Throughout history, there have been numerous revolutions through which people could change the destiny of civilization. Comparing revolutions, while the French Revolution or others that have taken place in different countries in Europe had their impacts, it is the Industrial Revolution that produced the most decisive and influential change for humanity in general. This essay will therefore defend that among all the revolutions in history, the Industrial Revolution, which started in Britain in the late 1700s and from there extended throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, easily stands as the single most influential insofar as imposing the most profound and most lasting economic, social, and political change on human society.
Economic Impact
The Industrial Revolution paved the way for economic growth that had never before been seen in history. Before industrialization, a large portion of the economy was agriculture, and people were doing manual work. The advent of the use of steam and other mechanical power, mechanization, and factory systems caused a sharp upward rise in productive and wealth outputs. According to Mohajan (2019) the Industrial revolution increased number and varieties of goods produced in factories and it enhanced lives of many people particularly the classes and upper classes (p. 1). The revolution in manufacturing techniques that began with textiles went on to other industries and opened up new segments of commerce and industry and was responsible for the onset of vigorous economic advance. According to Zeidan (2021), “The innovations in the development of all-metal machine tools during the first couple of decades of the nineteenth century helped to create more production tools for making in other industries.” (Para 11). This development facilitated the high growth of industries in many fields due to the increased speed of the production processes. Standard improvements in transportation technology involving railroads and steamships significantly altered the ways inter-regional and inter-continental movement of both products and people (McKercher, “Lecture on the Industrial Revolution”). This interconnectivity became the genesis of globalization, which is now apparent in world trade. Mohajan (2019) rightly underscore how “the Industrial Revolution defined a new economic milieu, namely, capitalism that enabled more people in making more than money than ever before” (p. 2).
Social Impact
The social consequences of the Industrial Revolution were equally worrying. Industrialization encouraged population density in towns and cities as people migrated from countryside districts in search of factory jobs. According to Zeidan (2021), it was evident that ‘the proportion of the labor force engaged in agriculture declined from 75 percent in 1800 to nearly 20 percent by the end of the century’ (p-7). This enormous population movement change created new social groups, where the new important ones were the industrial proletariat and the new middle class of employees and office managers. The environment in which these early factories were very harsh, resulting in the rise of labor movements and trade unions. These organizations sought better rights and other conditions of employment, social reforms, and better working conditions. According to Mohajan (2019), three key aspects must be fully understood to appreciate the effects of the Industrial Revolution accurately; these include: μ ‘C’ the Industrial Revolution provided opportunities for employment for women and children in factories and mines in ways that were not possible before industrialization; Yet, it resulted in the exploitation of workers and, ultimately, to legislation that would guard employees, including children from being used the same way. Another exciting aspect of the Industrial Revolution was its implications on public health and medicine. In his “Lecture on Public Health and Medicine,” McKercher avers that developments in cleanliness, knowledge of disease, and cures augmented the duration of life, populating densities. However, with the emergence of the culture of urbanization, the population faced new threats of the occurrence and the rise of diseases within cities.
Political Impact
Politics also remained highly influenced by the Industrial Revolution, and this is still felt today. Industrial capitalism and the increasing enrollment of capital created new ideologies and political movements. According to Mohajan (2019), human suffering due to the Industrial Revolution had an impact on new social problems, which influenced political issues as well (p. 9). These concerns were facets of social justice, such as labor rights, welfare, and income distributions. Due to the Industrial Revolution’s enhancement of the combined economic capabilities of these countries, imperialism evolved during the last part of the 19th century. They wanted to control sources of raw materials to feed their industrial economies and to enjoy access to markets for their manufactured goods, and this led to the colonization of almost all of Africa and some parts of Asia. These imperialistic tendencies, which the Europeans started, had much impact on future world politics, as we shall soon see. The other factor that led to the emergence of nationalism concerned the Industrial Revolution, which enabled countries to advance in their industrial growth. In his “Lecture on Nationalism and the World Wars,” for example, McKercher notes that nationalism manifested in technological development and the Industrial Revolution. It was an influence toward the rivalry that contributed to the First World War as well as the other events that were exhibited throughout the twentieth century.
Long-term Global Impact
The effects of the Industrial Revolution in the present world are apparent; therefore, we can see that the long term was the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution at the international level. Although it has brought a considerable increase in actual prosperity in many areas of the globe, it is also connected with increased inequality. Sustaining a postindustrial economy put smaller nations at a disadvantage, and the earlier periods of industrialization placed countries in a vastly different economic standing than today. Of all the consequences that the Industrial Revolution has had in the long run, the one that should not be overlooked is the impact on the environment. According to Malm (2016), fossilization, particularly the reinforcement of coal as a primary fuel resource in the Industrial Revolution, is to blame for the climate catastrophe we are experiencing today. And here is what he claims: “The fossil economy was not the making of humanity in general but of early British industrialists.” The reliance on fossil fuels, which was kicked off during the Industrial Revolution mainly to fuel industries, has caused the challenge of climate change globally.
Conclusion
In comparison with other revolutions, which did happen in various countries, for example, the French Revolution, the consequences of which were also significant but appeared to be regional, the Industrial Revolution has left an imprint on the whole world and the changes that it brought, by and large, remain influential to the present days. It revolutionized the way that people manufacture things, structure their societies, and manage their environments. In economics, this change led to the creation of wealth and, at the same time, to the appearance of new types of inequality and to a number of ecological questions. On the social side, it redefined classes, gender relations, and urban settings, to name a few. In political and diplomatic contexts, it has founded new political systems and modified relations between countries, and it is still the main factor influencing global problems and governance issues. The Industrial Revolution refers neither to a single event nor to a singular process but a continuous one that has had a profound influence on the world. According to Zeidan (2021), “Industrialization as a process is still taking root in various parts of the world today” (Industrialization: Definition, Stages, and Levels, Characteristics and Measures of Industrialization). The postindustrial transformation characterized by the above changes started in the mid-20th century, and we are still dealing with the impacts of this change in modern society as we confront the challenges of the 21st century, including technological advancement and climate change, among others. It is necessary to understand the consequences of the Industrial Revolution as a way of addressing the problems that face the contemporary world and, in so doing, trying to fashion out the future of humankind.
References
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2020). French Revolution | Causes, Facts, & Summary. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution
Malm, A. (2016). Fossil capital: The rise of steam power and the roots of global warming. Verso Books.
McKercher, A. “Lecture on the Industrial Revolution.”
McKercher, A. “Lecture on Nationalism and the World Wars.”
McKercher, A. “Lecture on Public Health and Medicine.”
Mohajan, H. (2019). The First Industrial Revolution: Creation of a New Global Human Era. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/96644/1/MPRA_paper_96644.pdf
Zeidan, A. (2021). Industrial Revolution. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Industrial-Revolution