The Industrial Revolution

Ling Lin

During the 1700’s, farmers were able to reclaim more land to plant, made better use of land, and used fertilizer to improve the soil. But rich landowners and the English Parliament began taking over land from the peasants because of the enclosure movement.

England had the advantage of a large navy, canals, and a transportation system that enabled them to the world.

The population of England rose from 5 million in the 1700‘s to 9 million in 1800. New technologies were invented.

James Watt’s steam engine revolutionized the world by introducing the train and steamships.

In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin which increased cotton production in the textile industry.

Urbanization, the movement of people from the country to the city, started during the Industrial Revolution.

Working conditions were awful such as long hours, unsafe working environment and child labor.

New beliefs also developed during this time. Thomas Malthus believed that if the population increases faster than the food supply, poverty will be unavoidable.

Adam Smith published a book called The Wealth of Nations in which he stated that the government should promote a free market which would increase production and lower prices.

Robert Owen believed that a Utopian society could be established on earth. Karl Marx believed that the proletariat class should own the wealth of a nation.

Traditional beliefs were challenged by Charles Darwin who wrote On the Origin of Species which stated that all living organisms evolve over the course of millions of years.

New advances in health care caused the population of Europe to explode. In 1870, Pasteur was the first to prove that tiny microbes resulted in diseases.

New art forms developed. Romanticism emphasized order, harmony, reason, and emotions.

Realism tried to represent life the way it was instead of portraying life in a mythical or romantic way.

Impressionism was a response to photography and the realistic images that resulted from photography.