TEMA 3

1. The Industrial Revolution: A Radical Change

The Industrial Revolution was a process of economic, social, and technological transformation that began in England in the late 18th century and spread throughout Europe and other parts of the world during the 19th century. It marked the shift from an agrarian and artisan economy to one dominated by industry and mechanized production.

1.1. Why did it start in England?

• Political factors: Stability after the Glorious Revolution (1688).

• Economic factors: Existence of capital to invest and a developed banking system.

• Social factors: Large available labour force due to the Enclosure Acts.

• Natural resources: Abundance of coal (fuel) and iron (for machinery).

• Technical innovations: Machines like the flying shuttle or the spinning jenny.

1.2. Main Inventions and Sectors

• Textile sector: It was the pioneer. Inventions like the Spinning Mule (Samuel Crompton) mechanized spinning.

• The Steam Engine (James Watt, 1769): It was the key invention. Applied to industry and transport, it revolutionized production and travel.

• Iron and steel industry: The use of coke (Abraham Darby) allowed for the large-scale production of high-quality iron.

1.3. The Second Industrial Revolution (c. 1870-1914)

• New energy sources: Electricity and oil.

• New materials: Steel, aluminium, and new chemical products.

• New industries: Chemical industry (fertilizers, medicines) and steel industry.

• New inventions: Internal combustion engine, telegraph, telephone, light bulb.

• New forms of organization: Taylorism (scientific organization of work) and Fordism (assembly line production).

1.4. Social Consequences

• Population growth and urbanisation: Cities grew massively and in a disorderly manner (working-class suburbs appeared).

• New social classes:

  • Bourgeoisie: Owners of the factories and businesses.

  • Proletariat: Workers who laboured in the factories for a wage. They lived in very harsh conditions (long working hours, child labour, unsanitary housing).

• Emergence of the Labour Movement: To defend their rights, workers associated in:

  • Trade unions: To negotiate labour improvements (wage increases, reduced working hours).

  • Political parties: Inspired by the ideas of Karl Marx (communism) and Friedrich Engels.

2. Imperialism (c. 1870-1914)

Imperialism was the expansion and political, economic, and cultural domination of European powers (and later the U.S. and Japan) over vast areas of Asia, Africa, and Oceania, leading to vast colonial empires.

2.1. Causes of Imperialism

• Economic causes: Need to obtain cheap raw materials and open new markets to sell their manufactured goods.

• Political causes: National prestige and rivalry between powers ("the possession of colonies is a symbol of greatness").

• Ideological causes: "Civilising mission" (racist beliefs such as the "superiority of the white man").

• Demographic causes: European emigration to the colonies to relieve social pressure.

2.2. The Scramble for the World

• The Berlin Conference (1884-1885): European powers met to partition Africa "peacefully" and avoid wars among themselves. They drew artificial borders without regard for local ethnicities or cultures, which would have serious future consequences.

• The British Empire: It was the most extensive ("the empire on which the sun never sets"), with colonies in India, Africa (Egypt, South Africa), and Oceania.

• The French Empire: Focused on North, West, and Central Africa (Algeria, Madagascar, Indochina).

• Other powers: Belgium (Congo), Germany (Togo, Cameroon), Italy (Libya, Somalia), and the United States (Philippines, Puerto Rico).

2.3. Consequences of Imperialism

• For the metropoles: They grew rich by exploiting the resources of the colonies.

• For the colonies:

  • Demographic: Introduction of European medicine that reduced mortality.

  • Economic: Exploitation of their resources, destruction of local craftsmanship, and an economy oriented towards the interests of the metropolis.

  • Social and cultural: Imposition of European culture, language, and religion. Loss of cultural identity.

  • Political: Loss of independence and their traditional forms of government. The artificial borders created ethnic conflicts that persist today.

3. Conclusion: The World Changes Forever

The Industrial Revolution and Imperialism completely transformed the world. The former created a technological and economic gap between industrialised and non-industrialised countries. The latter took advantage of this to politically and economically dominate most of the planet, creating an interdependent but deeply unequal world, whose effects are still felt today.

Suggested Comprehension Activities

1. Define: Industrial Revolution, Proletariat, Imperialism, Berlin Conference.

2. Explain two economic causes and two political causes of Imperialism.

3. Identify on a map the main colonies of the United Kingdom and France.

4. Compare the First and Second Industrial Revolutions.

5. Reflection: Do you think Imperialism was beneficial for the colonies? Justify your answer.

6. Match: James Watt, Karl Marx, Berlin Conference, Fordism.

REVIEW

Industrial Revolution and Imperialism