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Industrial Revolution Dbq Essay

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The Industrial Revolution was a period where many major technological advances, such as the steam engine, were made. It began in Britain some time after 1750. The technological advances allowed for much higher rates of production, but had several other effects as well. The Industrial Revolution altered the political situation, social structure, and economic standing of Great Britain. Drastic change in technology during the Industrial Revolution led to several political changes. The working class was gaining wealth, so they began to spoil themselves. This, in turn, could lead to revolt if the working class felt that they were losing wealth (Document 2). Increase in production and manufacturing led to a rise in Britain’s influence over nearby …show more content…

The factories caused much damage, especially in the environment. Lush green trees were replaced with towering smokestacks spewing black filth into the air (Document 7). The conditions inside the factories were not much better. Factories were buildings designed for production and not much else, so the working conditions were unhealthy and dangerous (Document 10). Because of the mistreatment of young workers and the unhealthy conditions, labor laws were put in place that limited the time that children could spend working in factories (Document 4). The filth could not be contained with many factories producing it, as a result it darkened the city streets, lowering the air quality and making life for the lower class much less healthy (Document 12). The only class that didn’t feel as much of the repercussions was the upper class, since they owned their own land for the most part and had access to medicine and treatments that the lower classes didn’t. Despite all the revolutions, the upper class remained on the top of the social ladder, and were treated much better than the working class. While the wealthy rode in closed cars on steam trains, the lower classes had to make do with what was little more than a wooden box on wheels, exposing them to the elements (Document 11). Despite the negative on the working class, the Industrial Revolution improved Britain’s economy as a

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