CHAPTER 21 APEH

CHAPTER  21 (1780-1850)

Energy and Industry Revolution

            1) INTRO: The industrial revolution came about like many other notable revolutions; gradually, beginning with small hints of change. Small improvements in industrial life such as the cotton gin, the telegraph, and new breeding techniques began the tidal wave of a new way of life. Then came steel plows, harvesting machines, and steamboats. Inventors saw the opportunity of world-wide change and production rates boomed. Along with new products, came new classes of workers, political changes, and new economic strategies.

CHAPTER OBJECTIVE: Through this blog, I hope to understand this chapter more fully. I want to make a connection from this period to the previous and future chapters. Thought it isn’t strictly important to the history, I would also like to learn how some of the industrial machines functioned, and how they were improved.

CHAPTER 21 EQ: What was the result of the industrial revolution in the upper, middle and lower classes?

The upper class was not affected very much-those who did not work did not notice any changes in their lives besides increased construction and crowding in the cities. The middle class was affected the most. The educated middle class found opportunities in management of factories, and at least in the beginning of the revolution, in entrepreneurial positions. By the time the industrial revolution was in full swing, most trades and industries had been well explored and competition was high, so entrepreneurship declined. The lower middle class factory working positions became more monotonous and more regulated. 

2) Friedrich List:

German scholar who advocated for modern industry. List reasoned that manufacturing and mass production was a vital way to preserve the public well-being and relieve poverty. List regarded a nation’s agriculture and manufacturing system as its defining quality for success. List published National System of Political Economy. Credited for developing the idea of economic nationalism.

David Ricardo:

English stockbroker and economist. Conceived the "iron law of wages"-a theory which posited that because of population pressures, common wages would always descend to the lowest level that sustained life. Because of his pessimistic theories, he assisted in economics being called 'the dismal science'.

Josiah Wedgewood:

English potter who established his own line of pottery products, which took english middle and upper classes by storm. Master of pottery and mass appeal, Wedgewood became known for his products and economic savvy. He founded one of the first successful large companies, with benefits for employees, rigorous discipline, and high production rates. His economic strategies became the foundation for the new class of factory owners.

3) US EVENTS:

Treaty of Paris-The American Revolutionary war was officially resolved in September of 1783. Britain had been significantly weakened by the French Revolution, and surprisingly did not triumph over the colonies. With the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, a peace was agreed. Two years later, the two nations and several allies met and agreed upon the Treaty of Pairs and the Treaty of Versailles to end the conflict.

War of 1812-

Due to international trade restrictions imposed by Britain, American expansion, and internal US political conflicts (mainly the rivalry between the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans), the US declared war on Britain in the summer of 1812. Neither side was prepared. America was a fairly new and inexperienced nation, and Britain was occupied with the French Revolution. The war lasted 32 months, and was resolved with the Treaty of Ghent.

4) Picturing the Past:

ORNAMENTAL POTTERY BY JOSIAH WEDGEWOOD
 Josiah Wedgewood, a master potter, created his own style of pottery, called 'jasperware'. With its sophisticated, unique, look, jasperware took Europe by storm. Wedgewood creations became a necessary luxury. With the middle class expanding and the upper classes benefiting from the labor opportunities of the industrial revolution, Wedgewood sold decorative pottery to the upper classes and practical pieces to the middle classes. Wedgewood pottery became a new sort of household art, that preceded the art of homemaking in the early 20th century.

3-2-1

Learned:

• I learned that  the industrial revolution was simply the economic and social repercussions of an enormous amount technological breakthroughs
• I learned that nationalism was enhanced by the economic prowess of various european countries
• I learned that the industrial revolution began the tradition of gender based work-spheres, when previously, everyone worked as much as they had to regardless of sex

Interested:

• I was interested in the 'science of economics', it's a mixture of political science and statistics and I never know that before
• I found it fascinating that Britain held an exhibition of the Crystal Palace. One would think that if a country took real pride in their industry they would spend more time on improving their industries than showing them off 

Question

• For the men that objected to women's immodesty in the mines: were they actually concerned with immorality or were they just uncomfortable with the exposure of the female body in a non-sexual way? Basically, were they operating on moral standards or simply surprised by their own sexual objectification of women?