1. What was the Industrial Revolution?
The industrial revolution was a time period where Europe moved from rural agrarian societies to industrialized urban ones. New technologies and mass production replaced cottage industries and manual labour to make things more efficient and often affordable. This led to massive changes in society, economy and government.
2. Two pros and two cons of the Cottage industry at this time.
Pros: flexibility, independence, work from home, set own hours, low costs, family involvement, quiet
Cons: low productivity, quality was good but often inconsistent, required high skills that were often specific, low income
3. a) Define/explain Historical Perspectives.
Without an understanding of how people in the past saw themselves, we have a simplistic view of the past—seeing events through the lens of our own values today leads us to be insensitive to the realities of another time. We must understand past actions in their historical context.
b) Provide an example. Families sent their kids to work in factories to help make ends meet. Father: you must go to work to earn your keep and help us pay the rent and keep a roof over our heads.
4. Why was Britain able to Industrialize first?
-large labour supply, middle class had influence in government helping create a pro-business government, business owners became wealthy reinvesting capital into businesses, technologies and new businesses, large supplies of raw materials including coal = cheep source of power for new machines, room to build factories
5. Define capital.
-money used to invest or reinvest in business.
