Factors That Contributed To Industrial Revolution In Britain - Essay Example

Factors That Contributed To Industrial Revolution In Britain Britain had excellent technological developments, productive innovations and other vital conditions that accelerated industrial revolution. Industrial Revolution constituted the transition from traditional methods of production to new manufacturing processes that occurred between 1760 and 18401. The transition primarily involved abandoning the use of hand production methods and adopting sophisticated machinery in production. Britain provided excellent conditions that favored flourishing of industrial revolution. Important conditions that favored growth of industrialization in Europe include capitalism, growth of population, peace and increased cross-border markets for industrial goods. Capitalism encouraged people to own private property and make beneficial contracts among themselves. As people desired to accumulate more wealth, they realized that there was need to work harder with the objective of acquiring more property. Capitalism was a motivation that enhanced people’s desire towards making inventions since it was the only way towards wealth accumulation2. Growth of population in Britain provided the necessary labor for industries and guaranteed local market for goods and services. Increased labor and demand constituted the primary motivators for industrial revolution. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Britain peace and tranquility prevailed in Britain; this provided a favorable environment for industrial growth. Industrial investors no longer feared destruction of their property caused by conflicts and wars. People, therefore, volunteered to install machinery for industrial production with no fear of destructive activities. International demand for industrial goods was increasing at high rates as people desired to make their lives easy through use of machinery. This provided opportunities for marketing Britain’s industrial goods. Increased markets encouraged more production and accelerated industrial revolution. Industrial revolution marked a major turning point in history because it influenced approximately all aspects of people’s daily lives. Important technological developments that took place during the industrial revolution include textiles, steam power, and iron making. Cotton spinners were mechanized and powered by steam or water; this increased output per worker by a factor of proximately 10003. Steam engines were invented with high power to weight ratio; this reduced difficulties that were previously experienced in transportation. Industrialists began using coke in production instead of charcoal. This greatly reduced fuel costs of pig and wrought iron production. The use of coke also allowed construction of huge blast furnaces that led to large-scale economies in production. Other productive innovations that favored industrial revolution include vulcanization of rubber and agricultural revolution. Vulcanization of rubber involved treating rubber with sulfur and lead metal to create a stable material for use in manufacturing processes. The advancement of rubber technology led to invention of pedals and steerable wheels for manufacture bicycle manufacture. Agricultural revolution in Britain enhanced the rate of industrial revolution. The landholders rationalized their landholdings and brought their land under tighter control through the 1688 Enclosure Movement4. The movement continued throughout the 1700s. This movement had two effects; the first effect was increased productivity of the land. People who owned land were confident that their farm productivity was secure as land ownership reduced conflicts associated with land use. The second effect of Enclosure Movement constituted transformation of people who used to work in farms into unemployed comprising a labor class looking for work. This ensured ready labor supply for the earliest industries in Britain. Agricultural revolution also ensured sufficient supply of raw materials for industrial productivity. Industrial revolution led to Britain abandoning hand production methods to adopt complex machinery in production activities. Capitalism, high population growth rates, peace, and flourishing cross-border markets for industrial goods constituted the critical factors that contributed to industrial revolution in Britain. The technological developments that marked industrial revolution included mechanization of textile industry, invention of steam power, and use of coke in production processes. Britain had other productive innovations that favored industrial revolution; these included vulcanization of rubber and agricultural revolution. The period between 1850 and 1830 featured rising number of competing and related ideologies; each ideology held a powerful influence during its time. The influences of these ideologies extended to several generations and continued to dominate to the present day. The French Revolution denotes a revolutionary movement that occurred in France from 1778 and 1799, reaching its maximum in 17895. Nationalism was one of the characteristics of the French Revolution and the most powerful of all the “isms” that took place during this period. The Emergence of Nationalism after the French Revolution The French Revolution constitutes the main factor leading to the modern nation-state; the revolution played a critical role in the birth of nationalism. Nationalism was born out of great personalities and political ideologists who realized the necessity of togetherness as nations. France and the Great Britain had strong nation-states and they inspired the rest of Europe. Other nations imitated the France and Britain ways of nationalization and wanted to unify themselves. Each European language began to have their own nation. Napoleon influenced several radical intellectuals across Europe. The Napoleonic Code was considered the best instrument for political transformation of Europe. The armies of the revolution era carried liberty, equity, and brotherhood as their slogans in addition to ideas of liberalism and national self-determinism. The national army represented people in arms. The army was commended by officers who were promoted on merit, and made up of people who identified themselves as citizens fighting for their own nation. During the French Revolution, most intellectual adopted the ideas of enlightenment. Enlightenment not only emphasized national identity, but also developed a romantic view of cultural self-expression through nationhood. The growth of national identity and nationhood comprised the big picture of nationalism. The Napoleonic wars ended in 1815. The European powers began trials of restoring the initial dynastic system. G.W Friedrich Hegel argued that nationality could unite societies during the age when religious allegiance and dynastic systems were declining. The French National Assembly issued a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen on August 26, 1789. The document affirmed the principles of the new state. There was widespread recognition of equal individual citizenship backed by collective sovereignty of the people. Other European countries saw the importance of nationalism and began organizing themselves into states. The Europeans were concerned with racial, ethnic, and linguistic groups. The invention of national identity caused rise of mass politics, decrease in traditional social elites, and minimized discrimination and xenophobia. McKay (2012) reports that different people developed mass-based, violent and exclusive form of nationalism. The European periphery featured campaigns for national independence, particularly in Ireland and Norway. Other countries continued to fight for their independence; some were successful while others were not. The nationalism had developed towards the end of the 19th century and had been exported across the world. The 19th Century Effects of Nationalistic Principles The principles of nationalism that influenced the 19th century include loyalty to the nation, national self-interest, and national unity. During the 19th century, nationalism became a powerful force6. The Spring of Nations involved a series of political upheavals that occurred in Europe in 1848. This spring began in France during the month of February and spread to all parts of Europe including Latin America. Nationalism expressed itself in several aspects as motivation for national unification and independence. People who held nationalistic ideas found it necessary to maintain loyalty to the state that they served. The 19th century intellectuals considered loyalty to the state one of the vital elements of nationalism. National self-interest dominated nationalism during its development period. Caldwell and Beeler (2011) argue that it was due to intense self-interest among nations that spurred conflicts among nations witnessed during the 19th century7. National unity proved a significant principle of nationalism. The 19th century saw several nations uniting for a common cause. This was necessary for development of nations during the period. Conclusion True nations did not exists prior to the French Revolution. People lived in merely absolutist territorial states that were united under one sovereign. The French Revolution of 1789 to 1799 was the primary cause of the birth of nationalism. The 19th century effects of nationalistic principles include loyalty, conflicts between nations and increased national unity. Bibliography Caldwell, Amy, and John Beeler. Sources of Western society. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011. McKay, John. Understanding Western Society: a Brief History. Boston: BEDFORD/ST. 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