chapter 22 part 3 the industrial revolution. on the continent continental europe began to...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 22Part 3
The Industrial Revolution
On the Continent
Continental Europe began to industrialize after 1815…the final defeat of Napoleon
In the 1780’s parts of the continent were not too far behind Britain Some regions had thriving cottage
industries Some British manufacturing techniques
were copied by certain Continental countries
The Napoleonic Wars
Interfered with Continental industrial development
Wars disrupted trade, created runaway inflation, and reduced consumer demand
Continental access to British machinery and technology was reduced by the Continental System
By 1815
British technology was too far advanced for most continental engineers and skilled technicians to understand
The technology of steam power was expensive and required vast amounts of capital
Wars caused a shortage of factory workers
Landowners and government officials did little to encourage industrial growth
After 1815
The Continent began to catch up
They studied Britain’s costly mistakes and avoided them
Each country was different
Began in the second decade of the 19th century: Belgium, Holland, France and the U.S.
Began in the mid-19th century: Germany, Austria, Italy
Began at the end of the 19th century: Eastern Europe and Russia
Other Countries
Borrowed British technology Hired British engineers Gained British capital
They used the power of strong sovereign central governments and banking systems to promote native industries
Belgium
In the 1830’s pioneered the organization of big corporations with many stockholders
Banks used money to develop industries and gave rise to Industrial Banks
Banks in Germany and France
1850’s involved in developing railroads and companies involved in heavy industries
Credit Moblier of Paris was the most famous industrial Bank
Built railroads in France, Europe and (Remember the Grant scandals?)...the U.S.
Britain tried and failed
To maintain a monopoly on technical advances
Until 1825 it was illegal for artisans and skilled mechanics to leave Britain!
Until 1843 it was illegal to export textile machinery and equipment
But many emigrated illegally, memorized plans for machinery and took it elsewhere
Tariffs
Were used by continental countries to protect their native industries
France enacted high tariffs on British imports
It had been flooded by inexpensive and superior British goods
The Zollverein 1834
Was a German Tariff used to encourage investment in German industry
It also established a free trade zone among member states (in the German Confederation) and a single uniform tariff was levied against foreign countries
NOTE: This was a Prussian economic organization that left Austria out
The Result
Increased production and availability of manufactured goods on the continent
The Industrial Revolution’s Impact on Society
A new social order replaced the traditional social hierarchy
The Proletariat: a new class of factory workers
The Bourgeoisie: Two levels emerged: Upper Bourgeoisie: great bankers,
merchants, industrialists who demanded free enterprise and high tariffs
The Petite Bourgeoisie: small industrialists, merchants, professionals who demanded security and stability from the government
New Opportunities
Artisans and skilled workers who were talented were in great demand and could achieve significant success
Certain ethnic and religious groups became successful: Quakers and Scots in England Protestants and Jews dominated
banking in France
As factories grew larger
Opportunities for advancement declined in well-developed industries
Capital-intensive industry made it harder for skilled artisans to become wealthy manufacturers
Formal education became even more importantas a means of social advancement BUT cost of the education was often prohibitive
Also
In England and Germany by 1860 leading industrialists were more likely to have inherited their businesses
Proletariat Wage Earners
During the first century of the industrial revolution a surplus of labor resulted in poor conditions for workers
Few holidays Often 14-hour work days Conditions were brutal and unsafe Low wages…especially for women
and children
Poorhouses
Provided work for those who were unemployed
Beatings and ill treatment Major goal of the poorhouses was to
persuade workers to leave the poorhouse and find work elsewhere
Friedrich Engles 1820-1895
1844 The Condition of the Working Class in England
Blamed the middle class for exploiting the proletariat
Will later become a revolutionary and collaborated with Karl Marx
Marx
Had similar ideas about the middle class exploiting the proletariat:
“I charge the English middle classes with mass murder, wholesale robbery, and all the other crimes in the calendar.”
Later…socialism NOTE: Marx called the French Revolution
inevitable
A struggle between labor and capital
Resulted from issues of working conditions, wages, quality of life
BUT the long-term impact of the Industrial Revolution was more favorable than negative
Material prosperity increased
Because cheaper high-quality goods were available
Increased consumption led to increased numbers of jobs
Wages (in England)
1790-1820: wages up only 5% 1820-1850: real wages and
consumption up 50%
Skilled British workers earned twice that of unskilled workers in agriculture
BUT the average work week increased
Workers
Ate better and quality and quantity of clothing improved
Housing was worse than cottage industry times
Only AFTER 1850 did workers share in the wealth produced in the Industrial Revolution in Continental Europe 2-3 decades earlier for English
The Luddites (Northern England)
A violent group of irate workers who blamed industrialism for threatening their jobs
Beginning in 1812 attacked factories in northern England and destroyed new machinery that they believed was putting them out of work
The Union Movement
Factory owners DID try to block unions
BUT leaders emerged to organize groups of workers to resist exploitation of business owners
Parliament’s Response
Combination Acts 1799:
Parliament prohibited labor unions Was a reaction inspired by fear of
something like the French Revolution occurring in England
Combination Acts were ignored by most workers
They were repealed in 1824 and unions became a fact of life by 1825 (were tolerated)
Robert Owen 1771-1858 1834 Created the Grand National
Consolidated Trades Union
Was a Scottish industrialist who pioneered industrial relations by combining firm discipline with a real concern for the health, safety, work hours of the workers…efforts eventually failed
He also established a school for his workers’ children at his own expense
Some experimented
With utopian communities
First “union” concessions went to craft unions who won benefits for their members through fairly conservative means
The Chartists
Wanted to gain labor concessions through political democracy
Demanded universal male suffrage
Most Unions
Worked for a 10-hour day AND the repeal of the Corn Laws
Eventually better wages and hours and conditions due to: Union action General Prosperity Social conscience