Impact of the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution didn't just change how we make things — it transformed every aspect of human life.
Urbanization
Before: 80% of people lived in rural areas.
After: By 1900, most Britons lived in cities.
- Manchester: 25,000 (1772) → 455,000 (1851)
- London became the world's largest city
Urban problems emerged: overcrowding, pollution, disease, crime.
Working Conditions
- 12-16 hour days, 6 days a week
- Dangerous machinery (no safety regulations)
- Child labor (children as young as 5)
- Low wages, no job security
Workers had little power. Unions were illegal until the 1820s.
Social Classes
The Industrial Revolution created new class distinctions:
Industrial capitalists: Factory owners who accumulated enormous wealth.
Middle class: Managers, professionals, shopkeepers — growing in size and influence.
Working class: Factory workers, miners — the majority, living in poverty.
The gap between rich and poor widened dramatically.
Women and Children
Women and children were preferred workers — they were cheaper and more docile.
- Factory Act 1833: Limited child work hours
- Mines Act 1842: Banned women and children underground
Environmental Impact
- Rivers poisoned by industrial waste
- Air thick with coal smoke
- Deforestation for fuel and construction
London's "pea soup" fogs killed thousands.
Positive Changes
- Living standards eventually rose
- Goods became cheaper and more available
- Transportation connected communities
- Literacy and education expanded
- Life expectancy increased (eventually)
Legacy
The Industrial Revolution created the modern world — for better and worse. We still live with its consequences: global economy, environmental challenges, class structures, and technological dependence.
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