<aside> <img src="/icons/bookmark-outline_gray.svg" alt="/icons/bookmark-outline_gray.svg" width="40px" /> In this lesson, you will…
Describe the process of urbanization.
Discuss ways that innovation dramatically changed everyday life.
Analyze the social issues that arose during the Industrial Revolution.
Big Question: How did life change with urbanization, industrialization, and new innovations in the 1800’s?
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During the Industrial Revolution, a revolution in agricultural processes in Europe led to more food being produced. Less workers needed on farms and the population increased. Massive increase in urban population as people moved to cities looking for work.
This process is called urbanization.
Urbanization also led to more innovations that changed cityscapes.
For example, Henry Bessemer invented a cheap process for making steel which is much stronger than iron. This allowed for:
With the invention of the electric telegraph, rapid communication seemed to make vast distances disappear.
Governments could keep a closer watch over their colonies
News from all over the world could be broadcast and printed within days, even hours.
The Industrial Revolution soon spread throughout the United States and Europe
The Germans being especially quick to embrace new industrial technology
Germany had large supplies of coal and iron ore
They built a large network of railroads, shipyards, and factories
Meanwhile, agriculture in the American South fed the new factories in the North.
Following the Civil War, the United States became a world leader in railroads, oil, steel, and electricity
Industrialization brought United States and Europe massive economic and military power
But industry also had numerous negative effects on the working conditions and standard of living for the poor…