Activities

Complete the following notes. They will give you an outline of the information contained in the passage. The main points, relations of cause-effect, illustrations etc. are clearly indicated in the text by logical connectors. Look out for them. 

•  (par. 1) The Industrial Revolution substituted the competition for the mediaeval regulations to control the production and distribution of wealth. In addition, the Industrial Revolution led to growth of two systems of thought:

1) Economic science                      2) Socialism 

 • (par. 2-3) Facts of Industrial Revolution. 

• (par. 4) Decrease in rural population.

causes: 

1. the destruction of the common-field system of cultivation; 
2. the enclosure, on a large scale, of common and waste lands;
3. the consolidation of small farms into large.

• (par. 5) Agricultural advance.

cause — more scientific approach:

e.g.  

• (par. 6-7) Growth of industry.

causes;

1) mechanical inventions in textile industry

e.g.  

most important:

2) mechanical revolution in iron industry

e.g.  

3) improved means of communication

e.g.  

results:   

1) increase in commerce and merchants collect weavers around them in great numbers to secure a sufficient supply of goods

2) substitution of factory system for domestic system.

• (par. 8) Revolution in distribution of wealth:

rise in rents caused by

social changes in country life:

• (par. 9) Social changes in manufacturing world:

The worker felt all the burden  of high prices, while his wages were steadily falling, and he had lost his common-rights. In addition the new class of great capitalist employers made enormous fortunes, they took little or no part personally in the work of their factories, their hundreds of workmen were individually  unknown to them

• consequences:

1) the old relations between masters and men disappeared, and a

     "cash nexus" was substituted for the human tie;

2) the workmen resorted to combination;

3) class conflict.

• (par. 10) Misery of working people often caused by:

Conclusion:

Thanks to the effects of the Industrial Revolution, it is clear that free competition may produce wealth without producing well-being.