THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION UPSC

Between 1850 and 1940, Europe and then other countries such as the United States and Japan experienced tremendous economic growth thanks to the industrialization of their economy. This phenomenon, based on two important industrial revolutions has brought about the transformation of society. Faced with the emergence of social inequalities, many reflections have been developed to improve society.

1 INDUSTRIALIZATION

The end of the 19th century was marked by two industrial revolutions which allowed strong growth in the economy.

  • Industrial revolution: phase of intense transformation of industry, characterized by the use of new techniques, the development of new branches of activity and strong growth in activity.
  • Economic growth: sustainable and irreversible increase in production. It is accompanied by transformations in the organization of the economy.

1.1 The first industrial revolution

This industrial revolution mainly concerns the United Kingdom in the second half of the 18th century. It was made possible by profits from agriculture and commerce and is based on coal, the steam engine developed by James Watt in 1769. New machines in the textile and steel industries are developed. It is the appearance of the “black countries” like Wales.

This revolution spread to other countries much later, in the middle of the 19th century.

1.2 The second industrial revolution

It begins around 1880 and is based on new sources of energy, oil and electricity. It is also the time of the development of the automobile, chemistry, machine tools.

1.3 The transport and communication revolution

Transport changes trade relations by allowing more distant exchanges. In addition, new trade routes, with the boring of the Suez (1869) and Panama (1914) canals shortened the distances.

There is the boom:

  • rail: first transcontinental link in the United States in 1869, Trans-Siberian in 1904
  • maritime navigation
  • of the automobile and the birth of aviation.

In addition, new means of communication such as the (Morse) telegraph and the (Bell) telephone are changing the relationship.

2 ECONOMIC GROWTH

2.1 Fluctuations in growth

During the period 1850-1939, the economic situation is favorable despite crises. The periods of strong growth (4% in France) take place from 1860 to 1873 and from 1896 to 1914 and are linked to: monetary abundance with the discovery of gold mines (California, Alaska), industrialization with de high productivity, technical progress …

The periods of crisis are from 1873 to 1896, “The Great Depression” and from 1929 with the Crash of Wall Street. The reasons for the difficulties are: overinvestment, stock market crashes, funding shortages, etc.

2.2 Unequal growth

  • depending on the sector: petroleum competes with coal, automobile boom.
  • depending on the region: intense industrialization in the United States and Western Europe and less in Russia.

2.3 An economic system favorable to growth

  • liberal capitalism
    • To meet the needs of the industry, the economic environment adapts: development of banks, creation of the public limited company, monetary stability until 1914, concentration of companies, commercial agreements, etc.
  • free trade system
  • low state intervention
  • Capitalism: Defined by private ownership of the means of production, by free enterprise and the search for profit.
  • Free trade: System in which goods circulate freely between states.
  • Public limited company : company whose capital is divided into shares held by shareholders who own part of the company and who hope to make a profit.

3 THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY

3.1 An urbanizing society

Demographic evolution

Despite the decline in the birth rate in the large industrialized countries, the population is increasing sharply thanks to the decline in mortality.

Industrialization and the presence of factories in cities

The rural population, attracted by urban jobs is therefore declining and the threshold of 50% of city dwellers is crossed in all industrial countries between 1850 and 1940. Living conditions in urban areas are difficult with high rents and mediocre housing. .

However, much progress has been made with the improvement of urban transport, the appearance of gas and then of electricity.

3.2 The emergence of social classes

Urban elites

The urban elites along with the financial and industrial bourgeoisie have economic, political and cultural power and lead a worldly life.

Working class

The more and more workers are moving from working at home to working in the factory, becoming aware of belonging to a class despite their diversity (skilled workers, team leader) and asserting their identity. Their living conditions are improving.

Middle classes

This very diverse class: craftsmen, employees, civil servants, liberal professions is grouped together around common values. They are white collar workers who have ambitions for their children and attach great importance to education.

3.3 Reflections from the industrial era

  • Liberalism: this movement is for “let it go, let it go”, the disengagement of the State, political freedoms.
  • Socialism with international socialists and socialist parties
  • For or against the state: Marxism, anarchism, fascisms
  • Trade unionism: revolutionary or reformist
  • Political parties
  • Reformism symbolized by paternalism, social policies as in Germany with Bismarck, social Catholicism.
  • Socialism: doctrines and movements hostile to capitalism which propose a radical reform of society and a more equitable distribution of wealth among men. They are divided between Marxist socialists and non-Marxist reformists.

Industrialization allowed strong growth and development of the company which was at the origin of vast transformations.

Industrialization gives Europe to dominate the world until 1914 to be then overtaken by the United States. This domination is commercial, financial and military.


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