How Is the Industrial Revolution Best Defined?

The Industrial Revolution shifted societies from an agrarian economy to a manufacturing economy
where products were no longer made solely by hand but by machines. This led to increased production
and efficiency, lower prices, more goods, improved wages, and migration from rural areas to urban
areas.

When Was the Industrial Revolution?

The first Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the mid-to-late 1700s when innovation led to
goods being produced in large quantities due to machine manufacturing. This spread around the globe,
and the Second Industrial Revolution began in the U.S. in the late 1800s that saw further
advancements in technology that drove greater efficiency.

How Did the Industrial Revolution Impact Society?

Although the Industrial Revolution occurred approximately 200 years ago, it is a period that left a
profound impact on how people lived and the way businesses operated. Arguably, the factory systems
developed during the Industrial Revolution are responsible for creating capitalism and the modern
cities of today.
Before this period, most households made their living farming and lived primarily in small, rural
communities. With the advent of factories during the 18th century, people began working for
companies located in urban areas for the first time. Often the wages were low, and conditions were
harsh. However, working for such businesses still paid a better living wage than farming.

Production efficiency improved during the Industrial Revolution with inventions such as the steam
engine. The steam engine dramatically reduced the time it took to manufacture products. More
efficient production subsequently reduced prices for products, primarily due to lower labor costs,
opening the marketing doors to a new level of customers.

The Industrial Revolution developed in conjunction with the capitalist economies. Under capitalism,
business owners (capitalists) began to organize labor centrally into factories and introduced a division
of labor to increase output and profitability. Compared to the craft and guild systems that preceded it,
capitalist production incentivized technological change and innovation at an unprecedented rate.

What Were the Effects of the Industrial Revolution on Tariffs?

The Industrial Revolution was not always organic or directed alone by free market forces. The United
States government, for instance, helped domestic industry at the time by instituting tariffs—taxes on
foreign imported goods—so that products like steel made by U.S. companies were cheaper than
foreign imports. Cheaper steel prices encouraged the development of infrastructure such as railroads
and bridges during the American Industrial Revolution.

Advantages of Industrialization
The Industrial Revolution created an increase in employment opportunities. Wages at factories were
higher than what individuals were making as farmers. As factories became widespread, additional
managers and employees were required to operate them, increasing the supply of jobs and overall
wages.

Since most of the factories and large companies were located near cities, populations migrated to
urban areas searching for jobs, often overwhelming the available housing supply. This led to significant
improvements in city planning.

Increased innovation also led to higher levels of education, often resulting in several groundbreaking
inventions still used today. These inventions include the sewing machine, X-ray, lightbulb, calculator,
and anesthesia.

Due to the Industrial Revolution's advancements, the nation saw the first combustible engine,
incandescent light bulb, and modern assembly line used in manufacturing. The Industrial Revolution
changed how people worked, the technologies available to them, and in turn where they lived. It made
life comfortable for many though living conditions for workers remained abhorrent, which eventually
fueled the rise of labor unions that led to improved working conditions and fair wages.

Disadvantages of Industrialization
Although there were numerous advancements during the Industrial Revolution, rapid progress caused
many issues. As workers left their farms to work in factories for higher wages, it led to a shortage of
food production.

The sharp increase in the number of factories caused an increase in urban pollution. Pollution wasn't
contained only in the factories; as people flocked to the cities, living conditions became deplorable as
the urban resources were overwhelmed.
Sewage flowed in the streets in some cities while manufacturers dumped waste from factories into
rivers. Water supplies were not tested and protected as they are today. As a result, regulations, and
laws were enacted to protect the population.

The Industrial Revolution provided an incentive to increase profits, and as a result, working conditions
in factories deteriorated. Long hours, inadequate remuneration, and minimal breaks became the
norm. Child labor was a significant issue. Health issues arose for many of the factory workers giving
rise to the labor movement throughout the U.S.