10 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION - HISTORY - 2025

The causes and consequences of the industrial revolution are located at the economic, social and technological levels. This revolution began in England in the mid-17th century.

Later, in the 19th century, it expanded to the rest of the continent and the world. This transformation process was favored by a series of simultaneous elements that laid the basis for its development.

At this time, high society people had large sums of money from exploitation in the American colonies, as well as raw materials. Having available capital was necessary to invest it in a project.

In addition to this, the Enlightenment made the English population prepared to accept innovative ideas, such as those proposed by the industrial revolution.

The most obvious consequence of the Industrial Revolution was the institution of the machine, which lightened the work of human labor and, in some cases, replaced it.

List of causes of the Industrial Revolution

The causes of the Industrial Revolution can be seen from an economic, social and technological point of view. From the economic point of view, the availability of capital and the need to expand trade were the most relevant causes.

From the social point of view, the availability of labor due to the agrarian revolution was an essential element for the development of the Industrial Revolution.

Finally, from a technological point of view, the appearance of the steam engine and other inventions was the real trigger for this process.

1- Availability of capital

In the seventeenth century, England had colonies in America that provided income from tax collection, from the sale of products, among others. This caused that the capital of the great colonizers increased considerably.

With this availability of large sums of capital, it was necessary to invest it in some area that promised profits.

For this reason, when investors saw the benefits that the introduction of the machine promised, they decided to support the Industrial Revolution.

2- Availability of raw material

In addition to capital, the colonies of England in America provided large amounts of raw material, mainly cotton. Likewise, in England agricultural production was one of the most complete in Europe.

The raw material was abundant but the artisans, in charge of transforming it into consumer products, did not provide enough for this task. The move from a manual system to a mechanized system promised to be the solution to this problem.

3- Trade expansion

The international market demand had increased considerably. As demand increased, there must also be an increase in supply.

Therefore, producers found it necessary to streamline the creative process. This is why the use of other systems faster than human labor was promoted: machines.

4- Availability of labor

Before the Industrial Revolution took place, England went through the agrarian revolution. Between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the most prominent industry was textile, wool being one of the most important fabrics.

The need to increase sheep farming caused production in the fields to change: plants for direct consumption were no longer grown, but fodder for beasts.

The promotion of cattle ranching took the land they cultivated from the peasants. Many started working on the farms raising sheep, but others were left unemployed.

For this reason, workers moved to the cities in search of other jobs, favoring industrial growth.

5- Appearance of the steam engine

The Industrial Revolution would not have been possible without the appearance of the steam engine and other technological innovations.

The steam engine was perfected by James Watt and was used as a means of powering transportation systems: railways and steamships.

Other inventions of the time were the flying shuttle (applied in the textile industry, it facilitated the work of spinning) and hydraulic systems (which provided energy from water currents).

Consequence list

Just as the causes of the Industrial Revolution are located on different levels, the consequences of this process were also felt in different areas of society.

From a demographic point of view, the population grew because of the revolution. Likewise, a process of internal migration from the countryside to the city was experienced.

For its part, the economy of the industrialized countries became a sustainable one. In addition, the new concepts of capitalism and private property were reaffirmed.

However, the most obvious consequence was the industrialization of modern societies. This element still has repercussions in our days.

1- Population growth

The economic stability created by the Industrial Revolution had an impact on the organization of societies. The European population grew at a constant rate, as the existence of larger families was promoted.

On the other hand, external migration also contributed to the demographic growth of the most industrialized countries.

2- Internal and external migration

From a demographic point of view, the Industrial Revolution gave way to an impressive migration process.

To begin with, industrialized countries experienced internal migration. Workers flocked from the countryside to the city in search of better life opportunities. Thus the urban population increased and the rural population decreased.

Second, there was external migration. It is estimated that from the 18th to the 19th century there was a migratory exchange between America and Europe of more than 50 million people.

3- Sustainable economy

The Industrial Revolution gave way to a sustainable economy, in which supply equaled demand. This made many nations experience economic growth, becoming richer and more developed every day.

4- Capitalism and private property

Mass production fostered the concept of capitalism which had been advanced by Adam Smith.

Likewise, the Industrial Revolution promoted the idea of ​​private ownership of the means of production, that is, industry.

5- Industrialization of modern societies

The most notorious consequences of this process were the industrialization and modernization that occurred thanks to the introduction of the machine in the different areas of society.

References

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