The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on British Society
The impact of the Industrial Revolution on British society
The Industrial Revolution is considered to be an important turning point in history. It both influenced the British society and economy. This essay will focus on the impact on British society, which includes about the birth of class, standard of living and child labour. While the Industrial Revolution could be argued to have a largely negative impact on British society at that time, this essay will argue that it also had positive consequences. The first part of this essay will illustrate the division of social class and the positive consequence that some organizations were established for working classes. The second part will argue the standard of living in the industrial revolution. The last part will demonstrate the experience of child labour at that time and several possible reasons for the large numbers of child workforce in the industrial revolution, and the promulgation of laws for protecting children’s right.
Britain has experienced the world's first industrial revolution, and the period of it was generally considered from 1780 to 1830, and the Industrial Revolution promoted the national transition from predominantly agricultural to predominantly industrial. At that time, urbanization has become a significant social phenomenon in Britain. The percentage of urban population in England rose sharply from 8.0% in1600 to 27.5% in 1800, while the percentage of agricultural population dropped from 70.0% to 36.3% during that period (Hudson, 1992: 151). In addition, during this period, the population of UK had grown tremendously (Brown, 2010: 106). The number of people in England and Wales increased from 6.7 million in 1760 to 13.9 million in 1830, as well as in Scotland, the population also had an increasing (Brown, 2010: 106). Moreover, Industrial Revolution brought some important technological innovations, such as the steam engine, and the use of it had changed the production which relies on the
The Industrial Revolution is considered to be an important turning point in history. It both influenced the British society and economy. This essay will focus on the impact on British society, which includes about the birth of class, standard of living and child labour. While the Industrial Revolution could be argued to have a largely negative impact on British society at that time, this essay will argue that it also had positive consequences. The first part of this essay will illustrate the division of social class and the positive consequence that some organizations were established for working classes. The second part will argue the standard of living in the industrial revolution. The last part will demonstrate the experience of child labour at that time and several possible reasons for the large numbers of child workforce in the industrial revolution, and the promulgation of laws for protecting children’s right.
Britain has experienced the world's first industrial revolution, and the period of it was generally considered from 1780 to 1830, and the Industrial Revolution promoted the national transition from predominantly agricultural to predominantly industrial. At that time, urbanization has become a significant social phenomenon in Britain. The percentage of urban population in England rose sharply from 8.0% in1600 to 27.5% in 1800, while the percentage of agricultural population dropped from 70.0% to 36.3% during that period (Hudson, 1992: 151). In addition, during this period, the population of UK had grown tremendously (Brown, 2010: 106). The number of people in England and Wales increased from 6.7 million in 1760 to 13.9 million in 1830, as well as in Scotland, the population also had an increasing (Brown, 2010: 106). Moreover, Industrial Revolution brought some important technological innovations, such as the steam engine, and the use of it had changed the production which relies on the