British Industrial Revolution: Agriculture, Industry, and Society
The Agricultural Revolution’s Influence on the Industrial Revolution
Changes in agriculture transformed farming into a source of national wealth, moving beyond mere subsistence for individual families. The Enclosure Acts, which divided land into large, private estates, including previously public land, significantly benefited large landowners, increasing their profits. As farming became more profitable, landowners invested in their land, introducing new methods and technologies to enhance productivity. The four-crop rotation system was implemented, and new machinery, such as the horse-drawn hoe, was invented.
Early Industries in Britain
The textile industry experienced significant growth due to increased demand for cotton fabric driven by population growth and rising living standards. New machinery, such as John Kay’s Flying Shuttle, was invented to increase production. James Hargreaves introduced the Spinning Jenny to meet the growing need for thread.
The iron industry saw coal become the primary fuel source. Machines were used to inject air into furnaces, boosting their productivity.
Key Inventions
- Steam engine: Thomas Newcomen
- Steam ship: Robert Fulton
- Locomotive: George Stephenson
- Seed drill: Jethro Tull
Socialism vs. Anarchism
Socialism: Developed by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels, it advocated for the abolition of private property, which they believed caused class division. They proposed a revolution led by the Socialist Party to empower the working class. This would involve a transitional proletariat dictatorship to organize a classless society with collective property.
Anarchism: Developed by Pierre Joseph Proudhon & Mikhail Bakunin, it aimed to maximize personal freedom by eliminating any impediments. According to their theory, the state, private property, and religious ideology restricted freedom and should be abolished. They proposed a revolution led by the working class to achieve this.
The Importance of the Cortes de Cadiz
The delegates who met in Cadiz in 1810 to form the Cortes were primarily liberals. The laws passed by the Cortes established freedom of the press and abolished guilds and the Inquisition. The Constitution approved in 1812, the first in Spanish history, recognized the equality of all individuals before the law and established national sovereignty and the division of powers, transitioning from absolutism to a liberal political system.
Historical Claims
The Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis helped Ferdinand VII. TRUE
The Liberal Triennium ended when Ferdinand VII gained the support of the Holy Alliance, which was formed by the army known as the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis.
Mendizabal was an important general who fought in the independence of American territories. FALSE
The most important law of desamortización was devised by Mendizabal. The generals who fought in the independence of American territories were Simon Bolivar and Jose San Martin, with the help of the criollos.
Population Growth in 18th Century Britain
The British population began to grow as the death rate fell, due to improvements in hygiene and nutrition. This population growth increased the demand for products, encouraging agrarian and industrial transformation and providing a larger workforce.