Industrial Revolution: Causes, Energy, and Production
Causes of the Industrial Revolution
Population Growth
Since the eighteenth century, plague epidemics were disappearing, and the development of agriculture allowed for increased food production, leading to a significant decline in mortality.
- European mortality, including infant mortality, declined.
- The birth rate decreased slowly but remained high, leading to considerable vegetative growth.
- Population growth was greater in cities. There were also significant migrations, especially to America.
Agricultural Advancements
Improvements in agriculture continued with the enclosure movement (concentration of land into large estates) supported by governments. This allowed for the introduction of technical improvements and specialization in more profitable crops in certain areas.
- The increase in production allowed for feeding a rapidly growing population.
- Technical improvements reduced the number of farmers required to work the land, providing labor for industry.
- Profits made by landowners were invested in agriculture, trade, and new industries.
- The demand for metal for agricultural tools and machinery led to the development of metallurgy and steel.
Technological Innovations
The increasing demand for machinery spurred technical innovations that boosted production and profits. These inventions originated in England, primarily in the textile sector. Initially, they were very simple, constructed from wood, and created by craftsmen and individuals without formal scientific training.
- The important aspect is not the invention itself, but its widespread adoption in industry: an invention is only applied when an employer finds it profitable.
- Each invention is significant not in isolation, but because it often leads to further innovations. The most crucial innovation was James Watt’s steam engine, which had profound consequences.
New Energy Sources
The surge of oil and electricity began to replace coal. The invention of the dynamo (1869) enabled the production of electricity from hydropower. Generators and transformers then made the transfer of current possible. Electricity found numerous applications in industry, transport, communication systems, and lighting.
The invention of the internal combustion engine led to its use as car fuel. The application of the diesel engine allowed for more rapid navigation. Aviation was another innovation made possible by oil.
The metals industry received a major boost with the production of new metals such as aluminum and stainless steel. The automotive industry experienced significant expansion with Henry Ford’s invention of the affordable car. The chemical industry saw important development in Germany, thanks to the manufacture of fertilizers, pesticides, and other products. Reinforced concrete began to be used for building the first skyscrapers.
Industrial Production Organization in the 19th Century
Industrial organization shifted towards mass production to increase productivity and reduce costs. This method became known as Taylorism, characterized by the manufacturing chain – the division of the production process into very specific tasks using high-precision machines. Each worker performed a highly specialized task within the process, leading to increased efficiency and reduced labor costs.
This system originated in the U.S., notably at the Ford car plant. The result was the standardized, mass production of cars at significantly lower costs.
High capital investment stimulated industrial concentration, leading to larger companies. To restrict competition, agreements were signed between companies to fix prices. This led to the emergence of various forms of industrial consolidation:
- Cartel: Agreements between different companies to control prices or markets.
- Trust: A merger of several companies under a single management.
- Holding Company: A financial group that owns the majority of shares in a group of enterprises or banks.
- Monopoly: The exclusive right of a single company to market a product or service.