The Industrial Revolution, Slavery, and Free Labor

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The Industrial Revolution
The New Forms of Economic Activity
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The Industrial Revolution was a shift from manual to large-scale machine factory production that transformed the world economy. This process began in England in the late 18th century and spread to other European countries, the United States and Japan (More, 2000). Various concepts such as industrialization, capitalism, and slavery are interconnected with the Industrial Revolution. While this period enabled people to manufacture goods and improve the living standards of some groups, it also resulted in appalling working conditions and violence for others. The purpose of this paper is to describe the Industrial Revolution and the new forms of economic activity it created, including mass production and mass consumption, as well as discuss its connection to slavery.

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution can be seen as an important turning point in history as it had a remarkable impact on most aspects of people’s everyday life. The process began in Great Britain in the late 1700s and gradually brought the economy of the US and many European countries to a new level. The introduction of machines and mass production resulting from industrialization caused more individuals to move from rural areas to cities, which shifted the focus from agriculture as the main economic driver. Instead, industries such as manufacturing, building, and mining were becoming more widespread. Besides, according to More (2000), “the revolution lay not in the speed, but in the shift from a hitherto inevitable correlation between increasing population and declining income per person” (p. 15). As More (2000) reports, in turn, an increase of around 25% in income per person was seen across the economy between 1780 and 1831, in the period of the Industrial Revolution (p. 16). Due to invention and innovation, society from predominantly rural turned into urban.

The New Forms of Economic Activity

Mass Production

Mass production is producing large volumes of standardized products in a constantly flowing manner. Through the course of the Industrial Revolution, the way goods were produced changed. For example, such techniques were used as production lines and standardized sizes. Furthermore, the division of labor principle was introduced, implying that each worker had expertise in performing a specific task. A set of such tasks involving several workers allowed for producing a final product at a reduced cost.

In addition, mass production was possible thanks to the increasing use of machines in factories. This approach allowed for reducing human labor and eliminated errors of low-skilled workers, increasing the overall turnover (More, 2000). Besides, as More (2000) states, “the production increases for industries such as cotton and iron … are far higher than for other industries: output rose by one hundredfold or more” (p. 16). Coal, as well as water and steam power, were used to provide energy for factories and transportation systems. Besides, the Industrial Revolution meant that materials, people, and goods had to be transported, and this was done through canals and railroads. Overall, mass production contributed to rapid economic and social changes, as well as urbanization.

Mass Consumption

Mass consumption is another phenomenon related to the epoch of the Industrial Revolution. It accompanied mass production and can be defined as the process of buying standardized services and goods by a large number of customers (More, 2000). Before the Industrial Revolution began, people mostly produced things at home or in small workshops. In turn, factories enabled society to manufacture more products in a cheaper and faster way. As a result, new markets were opening in new cities, increasing the level of consumption. In addition, many people’s income was growing, which improved their buying power. This fact led to more goods being consumed by the population. According to More (2000), “in the case of other services, such as retailing, higher incomes will lead to greater expenditure on them” (p. 16). Rapid urbanization and industrialization also contributed to the growth of service output. In general, mass consumption depended on people’s prosperity, and the availability of large volumes of products produces through the use of factories and machinery.

Connection to Slavery

It should be stated that the Industrial Revolution had negative consequences along with positive achievements for society. In particular, slavery thrived thanks to mass consumption and production, creating free labor. According to Walvin (1996), by “the mid-eighteenth century, when the European appetite for African slaves seemed insatiable, Africa seemed the natural place to recruit labor for the Americas” (p. 9). In other words, the slave trade and plantation slavery were among the causes for the development of capitalism in the US and Europe. Sea-port towns were rising as a result of the transatlantic trade of enslaved laborers (Walvin, 1996). As can be seen, the achievements of the Industrial Revolution are connected to slavery and partly result from this unethical and inhumane practice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Industrial Revolution can be seen as a rapid transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Various concepts are associated with this process, including capitalism, urbanization, mass production, mass consumption, and slavery. While the Industrial Revolution had positive effects, such as a faster and cheaper production of goods and improved living standards, it also meant such disadvantages as poor working conditions, child labor, low wages, and violence.

References

More, C. (2000). Understanding the Industrial Revolution. Routledge.

Walvin, J. (1996). Questioning Slavery. Routledge.

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