Discuss the consequences of the Industrial Revolution.
Discuss the consequences of the Industrial Revolution.
Consequences of the Industrial Revolution: -
Influence / Effects of the Industrial Revolution .
The Industrial Revolution was a significant event in the history of modern Europe. Its influence was so far-reaching that it profoundly effected the history of the modern world. The mass production of goods in European countries as a result of the Industrial Revolution indirectly encouraged the spread of imperialism, the spread of capitalism, colonization, market domination around the world, and so on. Discussing history, it is seen that the countries which were industrialized were mostly involved in imperialist aggression. The most notable example of this is England. The first successful industrial revolution was organized in England and later England was involved in the spread of imperialism. The overall results of the Industrial Revolution are:
1. Changes in the economic field: - Before the organization of the Industrial Revolution, the society and economy were mainly dependent on agriculture. But the situation of the Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the eighteenth century, brought about a profound change in the European economy. As the production of manufactured goods continues to grow at a rapid rate, the economy gradually becomes industrialized. These changes changed the economy as a whole.
2. The beginning of the decline of the village society: - Industrial factories needed a lot of cheap labor. On the other hand, income in rural agriculture was irregular and uncertain. But due to the massive increase in production in the industrial factories, a lot of labor was required there. So the rural people left the uncertain agriculture and started moving to the cities in the hope of getting employment as laborers. This led to the decline of rural society and economy.
3. Development of urban life: - Industries, factories - these were city-centric. As more and more villagers started leaving the village in droves to join the factories as laborers, the industries developed rapidly. As a result, the city's economy is strengthened and civic life flourishes.
4. The emergence of two new classes in society: - The emergence of two new classes in European societies through industrialization. One is the owner class and the other is the working class. The owner class invests capital in the industries and the working class maintains the trend of production in those factories. There were vast differences between the social and economic conditions of these two classes. On the one hand the owners had a vast property and social power and on the other hand the workers were the disenfranchised, deprived class.
5. Exploited and oppressed working class : - Many people leave the village and join the factories of the city in the hope of work, but they face exploitation and oppression in the city and at work. In the first place, they were made to work harder and longer than necessary. They had to work in the factory for about 16 to 18 hours a day. Instead, they do not get paid fair wages. Medical treatment for workers, education for their children - these minimum provisions they had not provided . Even the necessities of life could not be procured on their meager and irregular salaries.
6. Emergence of Capitalist Economy: - As the rural economy collapses by industrialization, capitalism spreads in the European economy as its inevitable result. The owner class invests a lot of capital in the production of goods and makes a huge profit. Gradually this trend became dominant in the European economy. Gradually state policy was introduced in favor of capitalism.
7. Chief Regulator of Economy: Owner Class: - Investment of capital during the Industrial Revolution made the economy capital dependent. Since the control of capital was in the hands of the industrialists or the owner class, they gradually became the main regulators of the economy. They continue to influence government policy to facilitate the spread of capitalism.
8. Decrease of class power of Aristocrats, feudal lords and landlords :- Until the pre-industrial period , all the power of society was vested in the hands of aristocrats, feudal lords and landlords. But during the period of the Industrial Revolution, as capitalism spread, all power passed into the hands of the owners and industrialists, and the power of the above three classes was greatly diminished. The owner class became the main controller of the economy and the state apparatus was run in their interest.
9. Emergence of a chaotic social situation: - On the one hand the owner class was busy trying to make a profit by exploiting the workers and on the other hand the condition of the workers became unsuitable for human life. So in European countries hostile relations are established between the owner and the working class. As a result of which workers' dissatisfaction, riots, etc. arise. But it is possible to control the working class easily as the state apparatus is in favor of the owner class.
10. Owner-labor conflict and the beginning of the movements : - The employer side was not willing to pay the fair dues of the workers at any cost. The workers were being exploited and oppressed day by day. In this situation, the only hope of the workers was state intervention. But since capitalism became the main controller of the state apparatus, the position of the state was against the workers. In this situation there was no other way open for the workers except fight for their rights .
11. Spread of Imperialism: - European countries started producing a lot of products at the time of the Industrial Revolution. Huge markets were needed to sell those products. In order to solve this problem, the European powers, along with other western countries, started advancing imperialism, especially towards the east. Its sole purpose was to capture the vast markets of the Orient. In order to capture this market, the rivalry between the imperialist powers started again. For example, the Anglo-French conflict centered on India and Bengal.
12. The colonies became the exporters of raw materials: - The colonial powers established their colonies in different countries like India, Africa, etc. in order to capture the market. In all those colonies, on the one hand, they destroyed their industries and small industries to sell their goods, and on the other hand, they turned those colonies into raw material exporting countries for their own interest .
In conclusion, the Industrial Revolution did not only effect European countries. From the above discussion it is clear that the Industrial Revolution effected the whole world. On the one hand, just as the social and economic changes took place in European countries, on the other hand, the Industrial Revolution changed the history of the whole world by encouraging imperialism.
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