DBQ, Revolucion Industrial

The early industrialization of western Europe was the spark getting set to release a fire that would eventually take forth globally. The industrialization was to bring innovations in technology, agriculture, and even politics. These innovations would then become the major causes of social, economic, and environmental changes that would forever change history and its future.

Like mentioned before, the early industrialization had social impacts. Some of these social impacts were thoroughly captured in Adam Smith and the Division of Labor (Document 2), Overcrowded London (Document 5), Excerpt from Poem by Black (Document 6), Paris Apartment at Night (Document 7) and finally, Love Conquers Fear (Document 8). Adam Smith’s essay analyzes division of labor and how fast paced it worked. This however affected social life, since people working in an assembly line had now left the comfort of their homes. No longer were you working from home but rather a factory. In Overcrowded London (Document 5), the painting depicts the roads of London being overcrowded and filthy. The filth obviously affects anybody; The people living in these conditions were most likely prone to disease and sickness. Last but not least, in the painting, Love Conquers Fear (Document 8), it is demonstrated that child labor was a common thing going on during this time period. This allowed children from the early age of 6 to be hired. How did this have a social impact? Through such harsh working conditions, child labor laws were passed to make it illegal to hire anyone under the age of 9. Furthermore, a child working instead of being educated only sets up the future for failure, since it was always mentioned that children are the future of the world.

While the Industrial Revolution had an affect on social standings, its environmental effects were also great. In Map 22.1, The Industrial Revolution in Britain, ca. 1850 (Document 1), we see some basic actions taking place. Air pollution was huge during this era, after all, their main energy sources came from fossil fuels and burning coal. In Document 1, we are able to see a map of the main areas the revolutions in taking place. We see the bodies of water used to do the overseas trade. In Pit of Head of a Coal Mine (Document 3), in the center of the painting stands a newcomen engine, which is being used to pump water. There are also a couple of men hauling coal out of a mine. The Newcomen Engine is causing a lot of pollution, as you are able to distinguish a large cloud of smoke being produced by it. This probably wouldn’t have affected the environment so much if it was just one plant, but these plants were being installed everywhere. The are no visible trees around the area, could’ve been done by deforestation in the making of paper. People were literally breathing in contaminated air.

Along with the Industry growing, the revolution took a toll on the economy, and not only Britain’s economy, but the global economy

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