Social_Consequences_of_the_Industrial_Revolution.

A.  Justify your choice of the two most significant social consequences of the Industrial Revolution. Prior to the time of the Industrial Revolution, when new technologies speed up the production of goods, most people relied on farming and skilled crafts to make their living. The machinery of factories replaced the time consuming handiwork of individuals. Large scale manufacturing was now possible and as a result changes in the demand for artisanal goods that people once relied on for their source of income forced many to work in factories, including women and young children. Because of this a large shift in society resulted and two significant consequences were the breakdown of the family unit and urbanization. The work done before the age of factory industry allowed for a slower paced life where the family unit had more freedom for times of relaxation and family contact. Families shared in daily activities and work and women were often in the home tending to the nurturing of children. The Industrial Revolution brought on factory owners determined to make the most profit to employ mostly women and children who were easier to control. The long work hours, up to 18 a day, left very little time other endeavors not to mention a lack of time to educate children. Days consisted mostly of work and sleep (Gingerich, 2003). In the book, Strengthening the family - Implications for International Development, contributor Marian F. Zeitlin, of the United Nations University describes the ,”…the presence of the modern family in the West was first documented in England in the mid-1600s”. She speaks of the early history of the western view of the family unit “The modern family evolved in concert with industrialization, science, and technology. With the growth of specialized wage labour, economically productive work moved beyond the reach of the family compound. Individualized remuneration and liability led to a redefinition of kinship obligations. The family that was engaged in farming or crafts could be expanded because extra hands could produce extra food and other products. Its boundaries were elastic” (Zeitlin, 1995). “The resources of the salaried family and the number of people who could be supported by its wage-earners were fixed. Living space in the neighborhood of factories and other specialized worksites was expensive and non-expansible. Where neighbors were strangers, the modern family became a "haven in a heartless world" (Zeitlin, 1995). This required them to move to towns and cities so that they could be close to their new jobs. It also meant that they made less money for working longer hours. Add to this the higher living expenses due to urbanization, and one can easily see that many families' resources would be extremely stretched.. People also had to share housing with other families, which further contributed to the breakdown of the family unit. As a result, children received very little education, had stunted growth, and were sickly. B.  Discuss the relationship between the Industrial Revolution and the development of capitalism. The Industrial Revolution relied on the workers of its factories to produce the most amounts of goods in the quickest time possible to create the biggest profit for the factory owners. Workers were usually women and children who engaged in repetitive routines working long hours and paid low wages. C.  Discuss how the rise of capitalism led to the development of communism. The ill treatment of factory workers and the negative consequences that resulted created disdain for those who exercised their self interests of producing personal wealth. Critics who took a pro-active stance would appeal for the rights of the factory workers to be paid fair wages for a regulated number of hours. They sought to end child labor by demanding minimum age limits for workers. As capitalism led to prosperity for the ruling class it brought The proletariat is the large group of workers who are exploited by the small group of capitalists who own the means of production, according to Karl Marx. 1.  Justify choice of two significant differences between capitalism and communism. Two differences one will find when examining the individual’s role within capitalism and communism systems are ownership of business(es) and the incentive to strive for advancement. Capitalism describes the economic system that allows for the private or corporate ownership of a business. It is the owners that make the decisions regarding the management of such businesses including what to produce, what to charge for it, wages and benefits to the workers. The economic incentive to gain wealth based on meeting the needs of supply and demand promotes competition between businesses. Part of this competition leads businesses to provide goods or services that meet the standards of consumers while keeping prices of those goods and services low. This can result in most businesses using the cheapest sources of labor which is mostly provided by individuals who fall into the lower socio-economic range. However, in a healthy capitalistic society, individuals who dedicate themselves to hard work, advancement of education, or business innovation, etc. can break away from any boundaries that keep them from advancing economically. With capitalism comes incentive (though not a guarantee), for one to find his or herself in a better position by taking and/or creating opportunity for better fortune. In contrast communism is an economic system based on the model that all members have an equal obligation to contribute their labor and the benefits of such are distributed amongst them leading to a cooperative social order. Communism sees capitalism as an evil institution where the owners of free enterprise produce social and economic inequality while only a few get rich.