Industrialization and Poverty

A History of Destitution During the Industrial Era (1800s-1900s)

 Introduction

Historically, the Industrial Revolution had a profound and eternalizing effect on the
growth of technology from the early 19th century. From the monumental
advancements in the production of textiles, steam engines, and iron sprouted
monopolies that would then capitalize on exploiting the lower-working classes by
paying low wages. It was not uncommon for women and children to work in
factories under trying, and often dangerous, conditions (“Industrial Revolution”).
These poor conditions would become the inspiration for future artists to create new
styles of painting, including modern art. Art itself became a source of which artists
could vent their frustrations with society on.
 The Transition to
Technology
Between 1800 and 2000, the world’s per capita income increased by over
ten times, and the world’s population increased by over six times
(“Industrial Revolution”). The development of steel encouraged the
founding of many textile mills, coal factories, railroads used for trade,
canals, and many other machines for the purpose of lessening the
amount of manual labor required while increasing efficiency. Also due
to advances in medical sciences and the advent of new cures for
diseases, the average lifespan of humans increased, and exponentially
increased the Earth’s population. By the 1820s, the manufacturing of
machines used to build more factories spread throughout Europe,
sparking the “Industrial Revolution” (“Industrial Revolution”).
Although some people’s living conditions improved due to this
modernization, the changes in social statuses, which would emerge as
a repercussion, would make a dramatic impact on the social hierarchy
of Europe.
 The Land Enclosure Acts
The “Land Enclosure Acts” were a sequence of laws passed in Europe which enclosed and
relinquished common lands used by poor farmers and peasants in between 1773 and 1882.
These laws entailed the stripping of numerous farmers’ rights of cultivating or raising
livestock on common land, or land that other people have jurisdiction over, and giving the
ownership to wealthy aristocrats and capitalists (“Industrial Revolution”).

This resulted in the eviction of thousands of

poor farmers who could not retain their land,
and were forced to pool into large,
industrialized cities marred with poverty,
pollution, pestilence, and over crowdedness.
The living conditions for these workers were
degraded so much, that families were forced
to share a single bed (“Industrial
Revolution”). Eventually the surge in
population of poor civilians provided a large
workforce for industries, and sparked the first
phase of the Industrial Revolution.
 Unemployment and Rioting
The great boom in industry eventually lessened the need
for artisans, or skilled English workers, due to quicker and
more efficient machines replacing them in factories
“Need”, by Kathe
(“Industrial Revolution”). Many restless and unemployed
craftsmen and workers turned to violent measures by
Kollowitz (1893-1901)
destroying factories and machines. This group became
known as “luddites”, who were finally dispersed by the
British militia.

“The Potato Eaters”

by Van Gogh, 1885

Photo of Trade The luddites’ riots

Union, Circa 1912 eventually inspired the
formation of labor
unions, or organizations of workers that banded
together in order to improve working conditions in
factories, and to negotiate wages and rules in the
workplace (“Trade Union”).
 Pictures
A Watt steam engine,
which was fuelled
using coal
A woman worker
pulling a tub of coal A spinning jenny. This
made yarn far easier to
produce.

“Puffing Billy”, an early

train locomotive

A spinning mule, which A coal mine in the

produced yarn US, early 1900s
 Foreign Affairs
The impact that the Industrial Revolution in Europe had in foreign nations
was disastrous for the indigenous people. India, which was under the
influence of Britain, was forced to destroy all of its cotton mills, and
work by sending Britain raw goods such as cotton, which was abundant
in India (“Industrial Revolution”). This resulted in European countries
becoming the leading textile product manufacturers in the world, which
greatly boosted their economy. As for India, however, major famines in
Bengal and other areas of colonial India occurred as a result of this
savage abuse. In Ireland, British laws stripped the Irish of many civil
rights, including severely limiting their land. The neglect of Ireland
shortly after instigated the “Irish Potato Famine”, a vicious famine caused
by potato blight that rendered potatoes inedible, an Irish staple, and
would claim a catastrophic 20-25% of the total Irish population (Mokyr).
These atrocities committed as a result of industrialization left some
impressions that are still visible within politics and economy today.
 The Controversy
It was widely argued whether the Industrial Revolution was necessary, or it was “good” for society, and still is
today. It is inarguable that, without undergoing it, technology would not be as advanced as it is now.
Unfortunately, this argument can work two ways; the Industrial Revolution also entailed the development of
new and horrifying weapons such as the atomic bomb.

How it was “good”: How it was detrimental to society:

Textiles and clothes became far easier  There were fewer jobs for skilled workers, who were
and cheaper to produce and transport. replaced by machines.

Jobs no longer required skills for
mass production.
Machines
increased the efficiency of
production of goods, and hastened the
development of technology (for
example, the steam engine).
The advent of locomotive machines
allowed people to easily travel long
distances.
 Working and living conditions for the lower-class people
were miserably low; it also involved the exploitation of
children and women in factories. Most children who
worked in factories could not receive proper educations
due to relentless, twelve-hour shifts six days a week.
 The byproducts created from the factories led to a
massive amount of polluted smog being dispersed into
the environment.
 Many children that worked in factories became
deformed, and were crippled both physically and
psychologically.

 It led to the advancement of future weapons, such as the

atomic bomb.
 Evidently, the Industrial Revolution encouraged significant
changes in society from technology to culture, which were both
good and bad. Which side will you choose? Vote in the poll now!

The End
 Bibliography
"Industrial Revolution." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 11 May 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution>.
Mokyr, Joel. "Irish Potato Famine." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Web. 25
Apr. 2011.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/294137/Irish-Potato-Famine .
"Trade union." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 11 May 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_union>.
Photos:
"Industrial Revolution." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 11 May 2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution .
Robinson, Bruce. "The Industrial Revolution Begins." Issaquah High School.
Web. 11 May 2011.
<http://www.ihs.issaquah.wednet.edu/teachers/fine/the_indu.htm>.