BALDAN SOFIA                                                                                                                          5ALS

Write an argumentative text about the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution is the substitution of competition for the mediaeval regulations of production and distribution of wealth. This process started in 18th and ss a consequence of there was the growth of two great systems of thought: 
- Economic Science
- Socialism
The first of these two systems has four chief landmarks, each connected with one English economists.
The first economist we are taking in consideration is Adam Smith with his “Wealth of Nations” (1776), in which he investigated the causes of wealth. He focused his attention on production of wealth and not on welfare of man.
The second economist is  Malthus with is “Essay on Population” (1798) which may be considered the result of the revolution. If Smith had focused his attention on causes of wealth, on the other hand Malthus focused on causes of poverty.
A third step is marked by Ricardo and his “Principles of Political Economy and Taxation” (1817) in which he tried to ascertain the laws of distribution of wealth.
The fourth economist is John Stuart Mill and in his “Principles of Political Economy” (1848) investigated the distinction between the laws of production and those of distribution, and he tried to solve the problem of how wealth ought to be distributed. In Mill’s thought it is possible to see the influence of Socialism, too: the distribution of wealth is the result of “particular social arrangements”, and competition alone is not a satisfactory basis of society.
In concrete the main facts of  Industrial Revolution are: the rapidity of growth of population in cities and a relative and positive decline of agricultural population due both to the agrarian revolution and to the revolution in manufacturing industries.
Focusing on the decrease in rural population there was three main causes: the destruction of the common-field system of cultivation, the extension of enclosure on a large scale and the consolidation of small farms into larger ones. But it’s also relevant the agricultural advance caused by the more scientific approach (substitution of scientific for unscientific culture, rotation of crops,creation of new technologies and agricultural societies). 
The Industrial Revolution imply, as it could be understood from its name, the growth of industry. The cause of this growth are the many inventions in textile industry as the spinning-jenny, the water-frame and many other inventions. A relevant role in the revolution is covered by the steam engine and the power loom that were fundamental inventions for the development of industry.
In addition there was a mechanical revolution in iron industry  and a consequent improvement of communication (canal systems, roads, railroads).
All these revolutions and innovations comported periods of over production and consequent depression and the substitution of factory system for domestic system.
But there was also a revolution in distribution of wealth: there was a rise of rents because of the enclosure system, the consolidation of farms, the high price of corn and money invested in improvements. As a direct consequence there was social changes in country life and in manufacturing: new food, new technical works and money that caused higher prices, the disappearance of the old relations between masters and men and the conflict between classes. 
A relevant problem was the misery of working people often caused by the conditions of labour under the factory system, the rise of prices and the fluctuations of trades. 
In conclusion the effects of the Industrial Revolution prove that free competition may produce wealth without a consequent production of well-being.