Eleanor Hansen

Student Number: 169071919

Europe Transformed 1870-1918

October 5, 2023

Second Industrial Revolution 1870-1914

The first industrial revolution was one of the first times humans saw major progress in

technology. From around the 1760s to the 1840s, people witnessed the rise of a revolution in

agriculture and production, moving away from the human economy towards the

manufacturing process. Great Britain was the first driver and powerhouse of the movement

that spread across the world, but Britain couldn't maintain this monopoly forever, as other

countries came into play, leading into the second industrial revolution, which had a much

greater and much longer-lasting impact than the first.

Many factors came into play when examining the causes of the Second Industrial Revolution

that shaped all of Europe and changed the new power in the progress of technology and

innovation. Beginning around the 1870s, Europe experienced massive changes in areas such

as economic development, social change, national life, and an improved quality of life for the

average person. People could afford to do much more and contribute to a bigger picture,

influencing all of Europe and beyond, with a profound impact on our modern society. There

was an extraordinary rise in the use of electricity and the need for it to create more effective

and larger factories to provide many things for many people. Many inventions were created

such as the light bulb, the telephone, automobiles, the radio, and more. There was a race for

the improvement of social and economic change. Germany took the lead in this new progress

in technological innovations, especially due to its ability to access raw materials, producing
two-thirds of Europe's steel and half of its coal all due to the empire's abundant reserves. It's

safe to say that Germany became the new powerhouse, surpassing Britain with its massive

population and resources. Germany gained a great force in the ability to improve their

technology. The empire improved laws, policies, education, development, and many more in

order to grow as a nation. With all these technological innovations there was no doubt that

human society was on the rise to a greater future.

There were many profound consequences and impacts of the Second Industrial Revolution. It

marked a period of never-before-seen economic growth, with an expansion of the economy,

trade, and higher standards of living for many. Major technological advancements in science

and engineering improved industries. There was also rapid urbanization with the expansion of

cities, unfortunately leading to social challenges in poorer areas and places. Massive social

changes and challenges emerged, such as women's rights and the rise of labor unions, calling

for worker's rights to adapt to their new lives in a technologically-dependent world.

In summary, the Second Industrial Revolution was a period driven by technological

innovations, bringing about changes in social and societal structures. It shaped the modern

world and provided the foundation for technological advancements and societal changes

across Europe and the rest of the world, still having a profound impact on how our lives are

shaped today.
Development of elementary education in Europe 1870-1918

When the Second Industrial Revolution emerged, it didn’t just change technology but paved

the way for a new standard across Europe, including the importance and need for accessible

education. As Europe transformed into a global powerhouse in its expansion of technology,

resources, and colonization, the need for educated individuals, no matter what their

background, became more apparent. These motivations ranged from the need for industry

workers to the conscription of individuals into armies. Along with the rise of nationalism,

education was a way to influence and indoctrinate people with their ideas. As Jean Mace put

it, “he who controls the schools controls the world” (250). All of these motivations made

governments decide that the expansion of education is worth it in the long run.

Roughly starting around the 1870s, compulsory education started showing signs of

improvement. Starting with places like Denmark, Sweden, and German states, all had

elementary education implemented. A little later on, places like Austria-Hungary, France,

Britain, and Italy started to implement elementary education in the 1880s. But some countries

didn't make the same progress. In the Russian Empire, although elementary education was

expanded and made more accessible, it was not made mandatory, leaving parents and others

with the option to not put their children into schools. Across all of Europe, the older

generation had concerns about sending the new generation to schools. Many feared the

unknown, and as education was not as accessible in the older generation's time, they were

wary of it at first. They had concerns about losing farmhands; back then, children often had to

do much of the work, and if they attended school, that could be a problem for families and

their income. Religion and faith were also very important at the time, so the expansion of
literature evoked fear that people would lose faith in the church. The more educated people

became, the more skeptical they could become in the church, losing their faith in God.

Even with all the skepticism, education was a good thing. It provided more opportunities for

people and gave people the chance to become literate. Due to the expansion of education and

the rise of literate people, there were many changes and consequences, such as increased

social mobility and the demarcation of society, which was a good thing. Literacy gave people

a chance to rise up in economic situations and have more say and decisions in how their

country runs. Education gave a chance for multicultural empires to strengthen ethnic and

national identities, giving people a chance to embrace their ethnic and national identities

rather than imperial identities. The expansion of literacy also allowed these multicultural

empires to be homogeneous and unify their national culture. All this educational expansion

and development during this time period has helped pave the way for future generations. Our

knowledge as humans has greatly improved since then and continues to grow in knowledge,

constantly improving the society we live in today.