Learning Paths » 5B Interacting
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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 it is not only one of the most important facts of English history, but led the growth of two systems of thought:
1) Economic science 2) Socialism.
The development of Economic Science in England has four chief landmarks:
a) Adam Smith |
b) Malthus |
c) Ricardo |
d) John Stuart Mill |
• (par. 2-3) Facts of Industrial Revolution.
1)Great growth of population, but the progressive decline in the agricultural population |
2) Agricultural revolution: land was bought by landowners, enclosed and farmed on a bigger scale |
• (par. 4) Decrease in rural population.
causes:
. 1) the destruction of common-field system of cultivation
2) the enclosure of common and waste lands
3) the consolidation of small farm into large
• (par. 5) Agricultural advance.
cause — more scientific approach:
e.g.
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The breed of cattle was improved, rotation of crops was introduced, the steam-plough was invented, agricultural societies were instituted |
• (par. 6-7) Growth of industry.
causes;
1) mechanical inventions in textile industry
e.g. spinning-jenny, water-frame, Crompton’s mule, self-acting mule
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most important:
Steam- engine applied also to the cotton |
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2) mechanical revolution in iron industry
e.g. the iron industry had been revolutionised by the invention of smelting by pit-coal and by the application of the steam-engine to blast furnaces.
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3) improved means of communication
e.g.
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Railroad, canal system and roads |
results:
1) These improved means of communication caused an extraordinary increase in commerce, and to secure a sufficient supply of goods ; it became the interest of the merchants to collect weavers around them in great numbers, to get looms together in a work- shop, and to give out the warp themselves to the workpeople.
2) the regular recurrence of periods of over-production and of depression, a phenomenon quite unknown under the old system, and due to this new form of production on a large scale for a distant market.
• (par. 8) Revolution in distribution of wealth:
rise in rents caused by
1)a lot of money invested in improvements |
2)the enclosure system |
3)the consolidation of farms |
4)the high price of corn during the French war |
social changes in country life: the farmers ceased to work and live with their labourers and became a distinct class.
•(par.9) Social changes in manufacturing world: the new class of great capitalist employers made enormous fortunes and they took no part in the work of their factories;
consequences:
1) the old relations between masters and men disappeared
2) the foundation of the Trades-union movement( associations to look after workers interests)
3) class conflict.
• (par. 10) Misery of working people often caused by:
1)the rise of prices of indispensable groceries |
2)fluctuations of trade |
3)recurrent periods of bitter distress |
Conclusion: The Industrial Revolution is a long-term process and it is a change from an agrarian to an industrialized ( factory based) economy.
The industrial revolution effects are:
1- Population growth: increasing numbers of consumers and workers;
2- the transport revolution: roads and canals are built because they are necessary to bring raw materials to factories and finished goods to market;
3- the factory town: slums
4- the agricultural revolution: land was bought by landowners enclosed and farmed on a bigger scale.
The effects of the Industrial Revolution prove that free competition may produce wealth without producing well-being. Its consequences are the development of a working class and the foundation of the Trades-union movement( associations to look after workers interests)