Abstract
Based on the video, this essay provides an overview of the changes, reasons, and effects of industrial revolution in Britain. Industrialization is the process of transforming an agrarian society into an industrial society due to economic and social changes. The essay elaborates on how better machinery was used to replace human labor. The video depicts the series of events that led to industrial revolution in Britain. The video also provides a grasp of the reasons that led to early industrial revolution and the accompanying changes that had significant influences on the Britain society.
Analysis of the Video
Changes that took place during Industrialization
The video reveals that several changes took place during the industrial revolution in Britain. Firstly, the beginning of industrialization led to establishment of factories to process raw materials such as cotton and wool. This situation led to massive employment of workers in the factories. The video also shows that there was introduction of new trends such as skilled labor and replacement of women with men in the workforce.
In addition, it is evident that there was emergence of new types of jobs in the field of engineering. Engineers specialized in handling special types of work such as manufacturing and repair of machinery. The establishment of new factories was accompanied by the introduction of new machinery to replace human labor. This state of events led to mass production of goods. Consequently, there was a shift in production costs since the new systems were more efficient. As a result, the Britain society gained access to cheap goods. New towns also emerged near factory sites and coal mining centers.
Reasons why Britain was the first to undergo Industrialization
Various reasons led Britain to pioneer industrial revolution. At the outset, Britain had developed reliable technology that enabled the use of power sources such as coal, water, and wood. Furthermore, the country had a ready market for finished products. Although some of the products were still available in the neighboring countries, Britain industrialized first due to its newfangled ethics and attitude towards industrial revolution.
Duiker and Spielvogei (2004) reveal that Britons had developed a modern work attitude, sense of education, and restructured government. The availability of educated workforce to run the factory machines underpinned the industrialization process. Furthermore, the Britain society had developed a transformed attitude towards work. Therefore, the right people were employed in the factories. The government also supported the new system by providing ideas and financial support (Duiker & Spielvogei, 2004).
Journal
How the Changes in Society and Culture Affected Me
Industrialization has affected my life in various ways. At the outset, the inevitability of change affected all the members of the society. The industrial revolution has led to division of people into upper, middle, and working classes. These classes vary depending on factors such as wealth, power, and education. The upper class consists of very rich individuals and families while the middle class comprises professionals and businesspersons.
The working class consists of both skilled and unskilled individuals who work under certain payment agreements that are set in the factories (Benson, 2014). However, my education level has enabled me to secure a managerial position in the engineering department of a textile factory. This situation places me in the middle class since I am a manager in the firm. The upper and middle classes are well off and have the ability to meet the expenses of both basic and luxurious needs. However, the working class individuals have a lower standard of living than the upper and middle classes. As a result, the working class individuals are exposed to unhealthy living conditions (Ashworth, 2014).
The Life of Middle-Class during Industrialization
As aforementioned, this class consists of professionals and businesspersons. On my part, I am an engineer in a textile industry. Although I am not superbly rich like the upper-class individuals, I enjoy better living conditions than the working class. Mainly, the middle class consists of wealthy merchants and professionals who are in charge of the factories. In the wake of industrialization, technology has greatly advanced.
This situation has increased the number of factories that have created more opportunities for both the middle and the working class. The factory system has led to setting up of new factories that requires professionals such as engineers and factory managers. Mostly, members of the middle class are concerned with accumulation of wealth. Furthermore, development of the technology in the factory system has resulted in mass production.
Usually, men in the middle-class families go to work while women and children stay at home. Children from these families have access good living environment, education, and healthcare. Finally, yet importantly, the middle class is characterized by the possession of a sense of superiority since individuals who belong to this class are mostly in charge of the working class (Ashworth, 2014).
Conclusion
The video provides concise details of the events that unfolded during the initial stages of the industrial revolution in Britain. As evidenced in the video, the changes that accompanied industrialization were because of technological advancements that emerged during this period. The effects of the industrial revolution are still evident in the modern Britain society. The industrial revolution founded the framework for modern industrial processes in Britain. As a result, Britain remains one of the highly industrialized countries internationally.
Reference List
Ashworth, W.J. (2014). The British Industrial Revolution and the Ideological Revolution: Science, Neoliberalism, and History. History of Science, 52(2), 178-99.
Benson, M. (2014). Trajectories of middle-class belonging: The dynamics of place attachment and classed identities. Urban Studies, 51(14), 3097-3112.
Duiker, W., & Spielvogei, J. (2004). The Essential World History. London: Routledge.