Introduction
The Industrial Revolution is considered to be a major historical period. The Industrial Revolution oversaw a significant shift in production. Major changes in the 18th century led to the innovation of new production technologies that included machines and iron products. The development of chemical manufacturing and water-power or steam-powered machines became popular during the Industrial Revolution.
Britain was considered a crucial economic hub in the European region, and many other countries, including France, emulated Industrial Revolution strategies (Lualdi 42). The emergence of new industries was influential in terms of changing socio-economic and political aspects. Unlike the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution was not characterized by social and political turmoil. In any case, the French revolution was a period of the socio-political enlightenment.
Moreover, the Industrial Revolution lasted for many years. The Industrial Revolution started in 1760, while the French revolution started in 1789 and ended in 1799. Therefore, it is important to explore the reasons why the Industrial Revolution is considered more significant than any other revolution in history.
Background
The Industrial Revolution was established in England in 1760 and lasted until the late 1840s. During this period, the majority of the western societies in Europe and America were agrarian and practiced farming (Levack, Edward and Vieldman 123).
Nevertheless, the idea of establishing urban centers as commercial regions grew between the 18th and 19th century. The idea of shifting production technology in manufacturing industries from hand tools to machines became a common phenomenon. However, the reasons why the Industrial Revolution started in England are intriguing.
Arguments
The Industrial Revolution was based on England’s economic history. In this regard, historians perceive England as the beacon of progress. England was a highly “developed and commercialized economy within the European region before the Industrial Revolution was established” (Levack, Edward and Vieldman 27). During the 1760s, a large proportion of England’s labor force did not engage in agricultural activities, raising the quality of life at that time.
Another factor that led to the Industrial Revolution was “the increasing population in England, after the end of American independence and revolutionary wars” (Levack, Edward and Vieldman 31).
Compared to other countries in the region, England experienced a population increase that caused a scarcity of resources (Levack, Edward and Vieldman 74). England had excessively used most of the resources during the war. Therefore, the need to provide people with an adequate amount of food and sustainable quality of life was inevitable.
The availability of coal and iron ore in England was a critical factor in the development of machinery and equipment. To date, the majority of factory machines and equipment are made of steel, while coal-powered machines have adapted to electric energy. The political stability that England enjoyed in the 1760s was not enjoyed by neighboring countries like France (Lualdi 56). By 1760, England still controlled most of the colonies around the world. In this regard, colonies in Africa and Asia were used to provide raw materials, as well as the market for manufactured goods.
England’s prominence in international trade and the demand for manufactured goods around the world sparked a need to establish mechanization. Mechanization was critical in ensuring production methods were cost-effective.
The Industrial Revolution “encouraged innovations in technology” (Lualdi, 67). The creation of cotton spinning wheel by James Hargreaves and subsequent improvement by Samuel Compton explains why the Englishmen were enlightened. Unlike in other societies, the environment in England allowed inventors to develop various ideas without causing a sociopolitical outrage.
The changes and achievements accrued from the Industrial Revolution are incomparable to any other. Initially, raw materials and manufactured goods were transported using horse-drawn wagons and boats. However, the invention of the steam engine revolutionized the transport system in the western countries (Levack, Edward and Vieldman 91). The impact of the Industrial Revolution in the transportation industry became a reality in America when Robert Fulton constructed a steamboat.
The impact of the Industrial Revolution in improving transportation transcended beyond the 18th century as steamboats crossed the Atlantic carrying goods during the 19th century. The French industrialization is not attributed to the construction of the railway steam locomotive. England led the rest of the world in innovating new transport systems like the railway in the early 1800s.
The inventions in communication and banking sectors made a major historical impact. Precisely, this invention was pioneered in England by William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone in 1837. In this respect, the contribution of the Industrial Revolution in ensuring the modern world enjoys reliable communication technology is respectable.
Through an Industrial Revolution, a new economic system emerged as evidenced by the founding of the first stock exchange market in London in 1770s. On the other hand, the infamous New York stock exchange became a reality in the 1790s. Unlike the communists, England was first in embracing a free enterprise economic system.
Conclusion
As suggested earlier, the historical impact of the Industrial Revolution is significant in all aspects. Compared to other events in history, the Industrial Revolution changed the quality of life by introducing new production methods. Importantly, the Revolution played a critical role in improving world economies.
Works Cited
Levack, Brian, Edward Muir, and Meredith Vieldman. The west: Encounters & transformations, Volume 2: Since 1550. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2014. Print.
Lualdi, Katherine. Sources of the making of the west: peoples and cultures. Volume II: Since 1550. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. Print.