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 
  It is an historical process which brought about such radical changes in nineteenth century England and in the western world.
  
  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) decline in the agricultural population

 

 • (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.  

breed of cattle

rotation of crops

steam-plough

agricultural societies

• (par. 6-7) Growth of industry.

causes;

1) mechanical inventions in textile industry

e.g.  

character of the cotton manufacture

spinning-jenny

water-frame

self-acting mule

most important:

steam engine

power-loom

 

2) mechanical revolution in iron industry

e.g.  

smelting by pit-coal

steam-engine to blast furnaces

3) improved means of communication

e.g.  

canal system

turnpike road

railroad

 

results:   1) periods of over-production and of depression, a phenomenon called the old system

               2) substitution of factory system for domestic system.

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

rise in rents caused by

1) effect of the enclosure system

2)consolidation of farms

3) high prices of the war

4) high price of corn

social changes in country life:

• (par. 9) Social changes in manufacturing world: The farmers held their farms under beneficial leases, and made large profits by them. So then they ceased to work and live with their labourers, and became a distinct class.

consequences:
1) luxury for the owner’s farms

2) loss of common-rights for the labourers

3) class conflict.

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

1) the terrible conditions of labour under the factory system

2) the rise of prices and bread

3) sudden fluctuations of trade which exposed them to recurrent periods of distress

Conclusion: Surely the  effects of the Industrial Revolution prove that competition may produce wealth, but just for singular individuals and not for the community, so is not increased well-being (good conditions for everyone).