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 is the substitution of competition for the mediaeval regulations which had previously controlled the production and distribution of wealth.

This led to growth of two systems of thought:

 

1) Economic science                      2) Socialism

 

a) Adam Smith

b) Malthus

c) Ricardo

d) John Stuart Mill

 

 

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

1) growth of population

2) agrarian revolution

 

 

• (par. 4) Decrease in rural population.

causes:     1)  Enclosure

    2)  Consolidation of small farms

    3)  Destruction of common-fields

• (par. 5) Agricultural advance.

cause — more scientific approach:

e.g.  

Breed of cattle was improved

Rotation on crop fields

Steam plough

Agricultural societies

• (par. 6-7) Growth of industry.

causes;

1) mechanical inventions in textile industry

e.g.  

Spinning Jenny

Water-frame

Self-acting mule

Crompton’s mule

most important:

steam engine

Power-loom

 

2) mechanical revolution in iron industry

e.g.  

Smelting by pit-coal

Application of steam-engine to blast furnaces

3) improved means of communication

e.g.  

Turnpike road and roads

Canal

railroad

 

results:   1)  increment of commerce

     2) substitution of factory system for domestic system.

 

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

rise in rents caused by

1) investment of money in improvements

2) system of enclosure

3) consolidation of farms

4) high price of corn

social changes in country life:

• (par. 9) Social changes in manufacturing world: The farmers who were able to take the land became rich, while those who moved into town lived in poverty.

consequences:

1)  rise of farmers class

2)  changes of habits

3) class conflict.

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

 

1)           Fall in wages

2)          Fluctuation of trade

3)          Rise of prices

 

Conclusion:

The effects of the Industrial Revolution led to the well-being of a few and to the discomfort of many, because the Market, out of control, rewarded the strongest.