The Industrial Revolution 1820 - 1850 - PowerPoint Presentation Example

?Introduction The Industrial Revolution, which occurred between 1820 and 1850 had a strong effect on nations and economies around the world (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, 2007 p190). It transformed economies that were predominantly based on basic systems and structures into productive ones that relied on capital intensive systems and advanced machinery for production and distribution (Ulrich, 1998). In America, the industrial revolution had a strong influence on the lives of ordinary people. This happened through the modification of the family structure and it affected the role of women and children. In other words, the industrial revolution shaped the way things were social, cultural and economic system of American families to the extent that women and children had to change the way they were delivering their services and earning income. This paper examines the way the contribution of women and children changed in America during the industrial revolution. This objective is attained in this paper through the examination of how women and children used to contribute their quota to the American economy before the industrial revolution. It goes on to view the changes that the industrial revolution brought and how it affected women and children. The paper then examines how the changes of the industrial revolution modified the way American women and children contributed their quota to building of the economy after the 1850s when the American revolution was entrenched in American society. The paper ends up with the lives of women and children after the industrial revolution by revealing some of the lasting effects of the industrial revolution on the earning patterns of women and children in the country. Contribution of Women & Children Before the Industrial Revolution Hillstrom & Hillstrom (2007) identify that before the industrial revolution, social and economic life in America was very different (p194). The period between the establishment of colonies by Britain through to the time of independence was a time when the economy was predominantly agrarian (Dublin, 1995 p23). This implies that most of the people of America relied on the use of very simple tools and techniques to farm, raise livestock and produce cash crops. This trend was the basis for which slaves were imported from Africa and hired laborers were brought in from Asia (America BookWorks Corporation, 2006 p91). Thus the period prior to the industrial revolution could be seen to be a period where labor intensive techniques were combined with archaic systems of agriculture to produce just enough for export. Another dominant factor that could be identified about this period is in the fact that America had very limited industries at the time of independence (Ulrich, 1998). Most of the goods and services produced were shipped off to Europe where the most sophisticated industries of the world were located around that time in the late 1700s. However, between 1810 and 1820, things began to change and the concept of industrialization began to to gain root throughout America (Ulrich, 1998: Dublin, 1995). Socially, the country was organized around the agrarian system that was dominant in the country. This is because the socio-cultural trend of the American people was one that depended strongly on business structures that existed at that time. “Whole family units worked together to grow crops and raise livestock” (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, 2007 p194). This implies that the whole country revolved around a system whereby families owned lands and worked on those land to produce crops and animals. These products were harvested and sold for some income that each family unit used to honor their individual and collective needs. At that time, the commercial system that existed in America was one where agricultural goods were battered for the purchase of other goods (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, 2007 p194). This shows that the systems of business were quite basic and unsophisticated. Most people had to rely on crops that they produced and harvesting was what all the families in America at that time relied upon. This paints a picture of a very simple system of social, economic and commercial livelihood. Extra income from the harvests were earned by processing raw goods for other people and this formed the basis of the cottage industry (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, 2007 p194). The cottage industry was one that also relied on the family system. Hillstrom & Hillstrom identify that between planting and harvesting, raw materials like cotton were sent to households that spun them and produced cloth between independence and the industrial revolution. Ulrich (1998) identifies that 96% of the cloths that were produced from cotton were spun by households through the cottage industry system. By 1820, about half of these textiles were still produced by households that ran cottage industries throughout America. Women and children were at the heart of these cottage industries (Ulrich, 1998). Spinning and the creation of textiles were generally seen to be a job reserved for women and children. Also, at this time, family cohesion was strong and people had very strong connection to their families and households (More Charles, 2000 p55). The Industrial Revolution The industrial revolution started in Britain in the early 1800s and spread to America by the mid-1800s when more machinery and tools were created and it became much easier to produce on a commercial scale (American BookWorks Corporation, 2006). The catalyst of the industrial revolution was the fact that technology improved and simpler ways of producing at a larger scale were discovered and spread around the globe (American BookWorks Corporation, 2006). Just like Britain, women and children in America were forced to begin to contribute to the fast-industrializing economy in several sectors like mining, artisans and in the factories (More, 2000 p55). This is because people could easily afford to set up new industrial infrastructure and this meant that more hands were needed to work in these institutions. Mining came with new equipment whilst the growth in concentration of populations in places where there was an industrial boom required artisans. Also, factories became more common and factories needed cheap labor to maximize their profits and cut down costs. There was an increase in migration from the various farmlands and rural communities into places where industries were concentrated (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, 2007 p194). This was because the newly created industries provided better wages than staying on the farmland which had a fixed level of output ie the quantity of products that were planted. And the time between planting and harvesting was more of an idle time so it became more practicable to leave the cottages during the waiting period and find more profitable jobs in industrialized cities and towns. Most of the women and children moved from areas in the fertile lands of the Mid-West and the interior and they moved into popular industrialized towns of the 1850s like New York, Philadelphia and Chicago (Goloboy & Mancall, 2010 p141). Due to the superior numbers of production in the the newly established industries in relation to the cottage industries, it was much more profitable for women and children to leave their families and find work in the industries. This led to the growth of an urban system and culture that eventually destroyed the existing system that built on a communal and/or household system where individuals were peasants and only ran small scale industries only to earn enough to supplement revenue and income that came from farming. Changes in the Contribution of Women & Children during the Industrial Revolution After mentioning the way things changed with the industrial revolution, it can be pointed out that the lifestyle and the work systems of women in America also changed tremendously due to the changes in the economy that occurred on the macro scale. First of all, it can be identified that the industrial revolution led to the migration of women and children from small villages and rural plantations to urban centers. The main purpose for doing this was to ensure that the women and children would get better opportunities in this kind of migration from family-run agricultural establishments to commercially enhanced industries. The cottage industries were abandoned. Goloboy & Mancall (2010) identify that whereas men often took up the tough manual labor jobs that required hard work, women took up jobs as “domestic servants, seamstresses and textile factory hands” (p141). Children, who were mostly connected to these women also ended up taking up petty jobs that were along the lines of these women. Secondly, the migration from family-oriented farms to urban centers collapsed the traditional family system where women were supposed to become wives who supported their husbands who had rights to all the family's property. The industrial revolution ensured that women could also contribute to the economy as workers who worked in sectors that were previously seen to be reserved for men. This set the impetus for the civil rights movements that supported women's rights in America (America BookWorks Corporation, 2006). This is because the previous structure was one where women were generally seen to be subsidiaries of men. They had to play according to the tune of men and this led to the creation of a system whereby women were under men. However, the industrial revolution led to a situation whereby women got emancipated from the various socio-cultural laws that ensured economic dependency. Children were also given the power to earn more money independently. This is ensured that their contributions were motivated more by their earning capacity rather than morals and ethics that bound them to family agricultural establishments. For the first time, there was fixed wages for women and children for work done. This affected and was affected by the capitalist systems and structures that existed in the country at the time of the revolution. This is because most of the industries and factories set up systems and structures whereby women and children were required to work according to a given schedule and this led to a situation whereby women and children were given pay for work done rather than food and shelter from the heads of their families. Women and children were the pillars for the growth of the newly established industries in America at the time of the industrial revolution (American BookWorks Corporation, 2006). This is because these women and children worked for very little pay and the conditions they worked under were often dangerous. This effectively ensured that the owners of the industries made maximum profits and this saw the growth of American businesses in the 1800s. American BookWorks Corporation reports that women and children had to work for long periods of time, usually between 14 and 16 hours a day and for 6 days in a week. This implies that the sacrifice and the efforts of this group of people went a long way to ensure that the industries remain productive and viable. This gave way for the growth of the American economy and the ultimate industrialization of the nation. More (2000) goes further to state that women were preferred to children and men because they could work for more hours and needed very limited supervision. This implies that the contribution of women was treasured and held in high esteem by industrialists. Women & Children After the Revolution The industrial revolution was strongly supported by women and children who acted as important labor when it was needed the most. However, there were few laws guaranteeing the safety and protection of women and children in these industries and people had to work in very dangerous and exploiting conditions. The enactment of the Factories Act in Britain became the catalyst for the protection of women and children in industrialized America (More, 2000). Additionally, the industrial revolution caused the impetus for the civil rights movement which sought to bridge the socio-economic and legal gaps between women and children (American BookWorks Corporation, 2006). It became the basis for demanding for better conditions and services for women and children throughout America. Conclusion The industrial revolution moved the American economy from a peasant system based on family and household oriented farming. The contribution of women and children evolved from just being members of a family that controlled given parcels of agricultural lands to individuals who could work according to a given schedule to earn wages. Women and children therefore moved from rural settings to urban and commercial centers where industries were booming. The industrial revolution transformed women from mere peasants who worked under their family heads to individuals who had the power and right to earn. The industrial revolution also thrived on the cheap labor that women and children offered to these industries. This led to the industrialization of the country. Finally, the industrial revolution set the stage for the bridging of the economic and legal gaps that existed between women and men. References American BookWorks Corporation (2006) World History Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Dublin, Thomas (1995) Transforming Women's Work: New England Lives in the Industrial Revolution Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press Goloboy Jennifer, L & Mancall Peter (2010) Industrial Revolution: People and Perspectives ABC-CLIO Hillstrom, Kevin & Hillstrom Laurie Collier (2007) The Industrial Revolution in America Volume 9 ABC-CLIO Publishing More, Charles (2000) Understanding the Industrial Revolution London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group Ulrich, Beck (1998) “From Industrial Society to Risk Society: Question of Survival, Social Structure & Ecological Enlightenment” in Debating The Earth: The Environmental Politics Reader Oxford University Press Read More