Industrial+Revolution

=The Beginning=

toc The Industrial Revolution began in Manchester, England in the late 18th century and early 19th century, with the replacement of manual labor to machine operated. This big change took place with the introduction of steam power in Britain. The first modern steam engine was built by Thomas Newcomen in 1705. The steam engine, fueled by coal, began to spread to Western Europe and North America, sweeping the world with its new innovated ways of increasing productivity. =Advantages=

There immediately became many benefits to this new way of operating. Since machines began to replace physical labor there was an automatic in material production power. Not only could these machines work faster than a person, they also didn’t need to break, go to the bathroom, sleep, they could practically work 24-7 if needed. This resulted in the mass production of goods which dealt with high mass consumption. The industrial revolution lead to the creation of factories; and with an increase of productivity, companies were able to expand and supply to a lager scale, nationally rather than locally. This also created an unbanization of societies. Products could also be transported within a greater range, with the aid of trains. This took off with the big railway boom in Britain lasting for 5 years, beginning in 1844.

=Disadvantages=

With machines now taking over, the skilled working man no longer had a job. Business were able to hire unskilled workers to run the machines, and able to pay them less. Jobs continued to be lost, and conditions continued to get worse, that unions began to form, trying to protect the rights of these skilled workers whose jobs where in jeopardy.The Industrial Revolution resulted in many factories being built and thus more pollution throughout Europe.

Social Problems
Urbanization during the IR came with many major social problems. Among the many, were the fact that many people did not have a place to stay due to overcrowding within the cities. In the late 1900s overcrowding resulted in five times more than Scotland, in England. Working conditions were extremely poor and the rate of disease spread rapidly throughout England. In 1832, cholera was responsible for the lives of over 10,000 people with more epidemics on the rise in years to follow. Mortality rates were very high and the cities became lethal places to live in due to unsanitary living and working conditions, and much pollution.

=The Present=

We are now living in the Postindustrial Revolution, where we are encountering the same results. Now, not only are machines taking over the physical work of people, they are now taking over the mental work. The increase of computers and digital technology has increased the spread and ability to produce knowledge; just like the steam engine increased the spread and productivity of goods.

Nanotechnology is widely considered to be the next industrial revolution. As it will change all things and ways of doing things.