Industrial Revolution

INNOVATIONS IN THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

• Steam engine- powered mechanized operations-
• Energy source came from coal, and the steam powers a turbine
• Flying shuttle and steam-powered "mule"- crucial to textile industry-
• Expedited the spinning and weaving of higher quality threads from cotton
• Bessemer converter- refined blast furnace; produced steel efficiently

Innovations (cont.)

• steam-powered locomotive and steamships-
• transported large quantities of materials more quickly
• interchangeable parts- workers only made one part of a model
• introduced mass production

REASONS FOR Migrating to Cities

• abundance of jobs
• proximity to services
• services: schools, hospitals, stores, etc.
• greater economic stability

WORKING CONDITIONS IN FACTORIES

• clocks and management rules controlled the workday
• worked continuously to the pace of the machines
• strict supervision with harsh punishment for mistakes
• no safety: faulty machines and incorrect usage led to accidents
• long work hours with little break

Corporate Leaders

• owned large business organizations that could monopolize a certain industry
• John D. Rockefeller- Standard Oil Company and Trust
• monopoly over US petroleum production
• German firm IG Farben- Chemical manufacturer
• monopoly over chemical and pharmaceutical industries

Population

• In 1800, 20% of the population lived in cities
• In 1800, 80% of the population live in rural areas
• By 1900, 75% of the population lived in cities
• By 1900, 25% of the population lived in rural areas

Role of Women and Children

• Middle class women and above rarely worked at an outside job
• Working class women worked various jobs
• Jobs included: domestic service (preferred), mine/factory workers, etc.
• Child labor was exploited for cheap, menial labor
• Children were abused as they worked in harsh factory conditions

New Social Classes

• Upper (Elite) Class: Owners of industries and corporations
• Middle Class: small business owners, managers, engineers, physicians, etc.
• Working Class: Laborers in factories and mines

Goals of Trade Unions

• pushed for better working conditions and higher salaries
• made sure that the employers attended to the workers' needs
• wanted to eliminate worker abuse