Impact of the Industrial Revolution: More Harm than Good?
The Industrial Revolution began in England during the 1700s and spread across Europe then North America, and eventually the world. This revolution assisted life but also made life more difficult as well. Gender roles were changed, products were made more efficiently and many jobs were created. This also meant that people lived in cramped houses, air pollution levels were high and people died of or suffered illnesses from working in factories. This essay will be discussing whether the Industrial Revolution has done more harm than good.
The role of each gender was changed due to the Industrial Revolution. Before the Industrial revolution men, women and children worked together as part of a cottage industry. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, each family member’s role changed. An example being the change in a woman’s role. Prior to the Revolution, women focused on being a good wife and mother, making sure their children and husbands were cared for and their children developed emotionally and socially. As the Industrial revolution swept through Britain, women gained new outlooks on their duties in life. Many women broke free from their traditional roles around the home and began to work outside of their homes and in factories and textile mills out in the industrial world. According to 1851 Census of Great Britain, it was recorded that towards the end of the Industrial Revolution over 30.2% of workers were female.
With the start of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century new machines were invented making it possible to mass produce goods in factories. Before the Industrial Revolution, goods were produced in small workshops which kept the prices of products high. Mass production in factories made it possible to manufacture goods more cheaply and quickly. Soon textiles, ribbons, pottery, glass, cutlery, furniture, pots and pans were available at affordable prices that had never been seen before. For example, James Hargreaves’ spinning jenny in 1764
The role of each gender was changed due to the Industrial Revolution. Before the Industrial revolution men, women and children worked together as part of a cottage industry. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, each family member’s role changed. An example being the change in a woman’s role. Prior to the Revolution, women focused on being a good wife and mother, making sure their children and husbands were cared for and their children developed emotionally and socially. As the Industrial revolution swept through Britain, women gained new outlooks on their duties in life. Many women broke free from their traditional roles around the home and began to work outside of their homes and in factories and textile mills out in the industrial world. According to 1851 Census of Great Britain, it was recorded that towards the end of the Industrial Revolution over 30.2% of workers were female.
With the start of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century new machines were invented making it possible to mass produce goods in factories. Before the Industrial Revolution, goods were produced in small workshops which kept the prices of products high. Mass production in factories made it possible to manufacture goods more cheaply and quickly. Soon textiles, ribbons, pottery, glass, cutlery, furniture, pots and pans were available at affordable prices that had never been seen before. For example, James Hargreaves’ spinning jenny in 1764