The names of British factory cities would soon spread around the world symbolizing the peak of industrialization: Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham and especially Manchester. In order to get a better image of the city's growth and development, we will turn to statistics once again. In the 1770s, Manchester had a population of about 25, 000 and by 1850, less than a century later, its population had increased to over 350, 000 people. However, this population boom brought about the dramatic worsening of health conditions in urban areas as work conditions and long hours put a toll on working people who were sometimes as young as eight years old. In addition, bad sewage disposal, air and water pollution as well as the diseases which resulted from this insalubrious environment caused an increase in the rate of infant mortality and shorter life expectancy. Along with poor health conditions, the toll roads, canals and railroads which now linked the countryside to urban areas had been built thanks to deforestation and soil depletion that largely contributed to the serious environmental problems that Europe was facing.
Social classes were also deeply affected by the Industrial Revolution. The standard of living for the common worked did not improve until the middle of the 19th century. Wages and standards of living were dictated by how well the business was doing hence there were rapid and serious fluctuations. Nonetheless, it is important to note here that the Industrial Revolution led to the creation of a middle class that in turn, gave birth to businesses. Family life was also altered by the Revolution with wives and husbands working in separate places. Moreover, the role of women in society during the era did not change significantly as they were underpaid and forced to choose between working as maids or in the textile industry (More 36). Child labor represented one of the most serious issues faced by British legislators during the Industrial Revolution. In their attempt to restrict it, they worsened the situation of immigrants who started being exploited by their employers (More 41). Protests did not help the cause...
Economist Adam Smith argued in his work, "The Wealth of Nations," in favor of laissez-faire economy which was based on the idea of restricting governmental interference in market economy. Robert Owen argued in favor of industrial reforms aimed at improving working conditions. The hard working conditions and bad economic life had generated protests and riots by the workers and eventually, the formation of trade unions. In turn, this led to political action when the Parliament passed the Factory Act of 1833, the Mines Act of 1842, and the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 that focused on solving the issue of abuse in industrial sectors (Stearns 28).
To conclude, we can argue that the Industrial Revolution which started in the second half of the 18th century was neither a political, nor a cultural revolution. Although it would lead to many political implications, this revolution was focused on the social and economic facets of life. Form this point-of-view, the Industrial Revolution brought about rapid urbanization which in turn, led to crowded and insalubrious living conditions. In addition, during this period in world history, the development of urban and factory cultures affected family life, and debates over legislation regarding child labor, as well as working conditions arose. It is important to remember that during this time the numerous technological advancements were followed by equally numerous social problems. Although this period in human history contributed to economic development in many regions of the world, it is safe to say that it also represented the birth of serious environmental problems such as pollution and the depletion of natural resources, as well as the starting point of consumerism.
Sources
Ashton, T.S. (1997). The Industrial Revolution, 1760-1830. Oxford University Press.
More, Charles. (2000). Understanding the Industrial…
