Social ImpactConsumptionThe Industrial Revolution increased productivity. By 1850 fewer than 20% of Brittons were farmers (the fraction of farmers was 45% in Netherlands). By 1880 it was 1 in 7 and by 1910 it was 1 in 11. Machines were replacing people. The unit price of cotton textiles fell by 90% between 1790 and 1830. The 1705 steam engine used 45 lbs of coal for a single horsepower hour. A late 19th century steam engine used less than one pound to do the same work.
Productivity gains and growth of demandSo we produce more stuff but who is going to buy it? Industrialists realized early on that their employees were also their customers. So they did not keep wages too low. The rich were getting richer: top 1% in Britain had 25% of national income in 1801 and 35% in 1848. Industrial societies were becoming less equal but (almost) everybody was getting better off. Real wages for building laborers in London doubled between 1848 and 1913 (Ferguson, p. 210). Skilled workers favored collective bargaining over revolution. Gap in living standards in London and Beijing: 2:1 in the 1700's and 6:1 in the 1910's (p. 212) Abolition of SlaveryDid the industrial revolution helped abolish slavery? Maybe. The steam engine was invented in 1776 and was introduced in the textile industry in 1785. So any acts that could be said to be influenced by the industrial revolution must be after 1780. Apparently there were movements to abolish slavery before that, (The following are from Wikipedia.) 1706: In the case of Smith v. Browne & Cooper, Sir John Holt, Lord
Chief Justice of England, rules that "as soon as a Negro comes into
England, he becomes free. One may be a villein in England, but not a slave." 1787: The United States in Congress Assembled passed the Northwest Ordinance
of 1787 outlawing any new slavery in the Northwest Territories. 1804: Haiti declares independence and abolishes slavery |