Since the 19th century, industrialization has had positive and negative effects on the live of workers. Industrialization is the process of modernization and mass production of most goods. This also includes but not limited to mining and the forging of iron. An area where industrialization had a massive effect was in Eastern Europe. It emerged as a need to modernize and unify Europe. Although Britain led industrialization at first, it quickly exploded from Spain all the way through Russia. Early in the industrial revolution Britain stood alone as the worlds industrial giant.
To protect its head start Britain placed strict laws monitoring the exportation of inventions. Then in 1807 a British mechanic William Cockerill, opened factories in Belgium for the manufacturing of spinning and weaving machines. Belgium thus became the first European nation to industrialize. By the mid 1800s, other nations had joined the race, and several newcomers were challenging Britains industrial supremacy. The effects of industrialization were especially obvious in Germany. By the late 1800s Germany had setup a standard for chemical and electric companies worldwide.
Germany was second only to Britain among the European powers. Germany spectacular growth was due to the ample amount of iron and coal resources in the area. A disciplined and educated work force also helped the economy, while a rapid growing population provided a huge home market and a highly skilled work force. It almost eliminated the poverty factor in Germany due to the vast availability of employment. But along with the attributions of industrialization also came the bad. Poor work place conditions lead to work place abuses.
The Essay on Imperialism Africa Britain Germany
Definition: the desire to acquire colonies. (esp. 1870-1914) After low point in the beginning of the 19 th century, there was a revival in Imperialism (New Imperialism) as European powers fought over Asia and Africa. In 1875 only 10% of Africa was under European control. In 1895 90% of Africa was under European control. The leading imperial powers were Britain, France, Russia, and Germany. ...
Workers were forced to work long hours for little pay and even children were abuses during this time. Some of the abuses were children as young as 7 could be seen in work places, sexual discrimination was present. Women were often hired in factories because they could be paid less then men. And pollution was also a serious problem. These were among the most common problems of the time and these were too often seen in most if not all the work places. Workers were outraged by these abuses and how the government, at the time, did nothing to help.
Workers established unions and won the right to bargain with employers for better wages and hours. And eventually the government passed laws regulating the employment of children and set safety regulations in the work place. Although this would be achieved much later, equal rights would be given to everyone in the work place despite their sexual orientation, race, religion, etc. Although industrialization brought many changes and even modernize most countries, it also had its negative effects. In conclusion it is evident that the positive affects out weight the negative. If not for industrialization most of Europe would be in the dark.
And industrialization also made the world much smaller by most of the inventions such as the steam engine and mass expansion of railroads..