"The chief features of the Industrial Revolution" is an essay written by Arnold Toynbee.

Right from the start the reader expects to read a test about the main consequences of Industrial Revolution.

The text is organized into 10 paragraphs, each analyzing some aspects of the historical process.

The first paragraph has got an introductory function. The reader finds the answers to his/her expectations: writer's aim is expressed, that is analyze changes brought by Industrial Revolution.

The second is organized into different argumentation. First of all a definition of the process is given: it is the substitution of mediaeval regulation of production and distribution of wealth. Then the writer analyzes the growth of two systems of thought as a consequence of it: Economic Science and Socialism. The first is linked to publication of four books: Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations (which is about causes of wealth), Malthus' Essay on population (about causes of poverty), Ricardo's Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (about the way wealth is distributed),Mill's Principles of Political Economy (about distinction between the laws of production and those of distribution).

The third starts with the explanation of the fourth book and it carries on with a judgment: it has some influences exercised by Socialism.

The fourth is about other consequences of Industrial Revolution: growth of population and decline in the rural areas. In order to demonstrate the thesis, the writer provides quantitative data about number of people's increase and decline rate.

The fifth paragraph analyzes Agrarian Revolution, which led people to move to cities. The reasons are many: the destruction of the common-field system of cultivation ,the enclosure, the consolidation of small farms into large. Therefore labourers hadn't got any right of cultivate common lands and they decide to go in search of work into the cities.

The sixth points out positive results of Agrarian Revolution : return to rotation of crops, improvement of breed of cattle, invention of steam-plough, institution of agricultural societies. Thanks to them, agricultural produce increased.

The seventh examines inventions of Industrial Revolution: Hargreaves' spinning jenny, Arkwright's water frame, Crompton's mule, Kelly's self-acting mule, steam engine perfected by Watt , Cartwright's power loom ,smelting of iron by pit coal. As a consequence cotton and iron industry revolutioned and to explain it the writer provides a document.

The eight explains how means of communication improved because of necessity of better roads to transport goods.

Penultimate and ultimate are about revolution in distribution of wealth and results of it. Quantitative data demonstrate there was a rise in rents due to money invested in improvements, effect of enclosures and high prices of corn. Therefore there was a change in the position of classes, also thanks to the new industrial system: e.g. employers became rich (N.B: they don't work directly). The effect was that relation between masters and men disappeared and Trades-Union formed against chiefs.

The conclusion of the essay is that the process did not produce well- being, as a matter of fact there was a fall in wages and an increase of prices.