Industrial revolution - Essay Example

Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution Industrial revolution took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. The rural societies in America and Europe become urban and industrialized. Before the industrial revolution production was done from people’s homes and comprised the use of basic machines and hand tools. It was a period of shifting from these basic tools to sophisticated machinery.Factories came up during this period and mass production began. The steam engine, the textile and iron industries were vital in bringing change during this period.

The fields of banking, transportation and communication also improved.Industrial revolution was not welcomed by every person, it left many people jobless. The living conditions of the poor and working class deteriorated and thus they were not comfortable with the changes that came with industrial revolution. The mechanization during this period meant that less human labor was required and most people were relieved of their duties. For example, the spinning jenny was developed that enabled mass production of spools of threads over a short period of time.

The power loom was another machine that made the production of cloth easier.The other salient feature that marked the period of industrial revolution was the factory system. This saw different people specialize in different areas. There was also development in the field of agriculture where food was produced for a larger population that did not practice agriculture.Basically, the changes that took place during this period were in the fields of transportation through the use of steam operated locomotives, the development of factories that led to the division of labor and specialization, change in the political sphere to cater for the shift in economic power as well as the use of sophisticated machinery.

ReferenceClark, G., o’Rourke, K. H. & Taylor, A. M. (2008). Made In America? The New World, the Old, and the Industrial Revolution. American Economic Review, 98(2), 523-528. Doi:10.1257/aer.98.2.523.