From the analysis of lecture materials and other related historical materials, the effects of industrialization on European society were predominantly negative, outweighing the positive impacts of industrialization. The lecture materials anchored discussions on the harsh realities endured by workers during this transformative period, underscoring exploitation of the workers, increased social inequalities, and exposure to harsh and deplorable working conditions brought about by industrialization. It is right to talk about the Industrial Revolution, which is defined as the drastic shift from manual-based labor to mechanically driven, given the intense and impactful changes experienced during this time.
The idea of communism became insightful due to the harsh economic reality of industrialization. The emergence of communism, brought out by the second lecture, illuminated how the concentration of wealth and exploitation of workers catalyzed discontent amongst the workers. As evidenced in Karl Marx’s “The Communist Manifesto,” which was anchored on creating a classless society and stopping ownership of private properties, it served as the perfect solution to the challenges brought about by industrialization (Marx & Engels, 1848). This argumentative essay will thus delve into the impacts of industrialization while stressing the need for communism as the only radical solution to the impacts of industrialization.
One of the most outstanding effects of industrialization was the exploitation of workers and exposure to harsh and unfavorable working conditions. The Sadler Committee’s report on factory conditions stands out as a significant and reliable primary source, giving detailed documentation of the adverse conditions that the workers faced in the 19th century. This critical report illuminated the excessively long working hours. It also shows the harsh working conditions and the rising exploitation of minors, such as children who penetrated the industrial setups. As brought up by the Sadler Committee’s findings, the tangible proofs address the high human cost of the industrial process, giving real support for the conversation that the negative impacts were actual and cut across different industrial settings (Sadler, 1832). Workers began to raise matters on how harshly workers were treated as the industries developed. The majority were not happy with the harsh conditions they grappled with in their day-to-day jobs. This led to demonstrations by the workers in their quest for better labor reforms. Workers were dissatisfied, and this discontentment was due to exposure to unfavorable conditions during the industrial growth process. This dissatisfaction catalyzed social setups advocating for inclusive rights and work laws. Advocacy proved to be a very influential tool in transforming how labor groups perceived, held, and seen, leading to more equitable labor reforms and favorable working conditions.
As industrialization progressed in European societies during the 19th century, it also increased social inequalities due to the concentration of wealth among a few influential individuals. Karl Marx, in his significant seminarian work “The Communist Manifesto,” vehemently criticized the rich for concentrating wealth on themselves at the expense of the poor. Marx proposed the abolition of private property ownership, ultimately establishing an established society where wealth is distributed evenly. As industrialization grew, the degree of dissatisfaction among the workers grew, ultimately demanding communism as a significant option. Marx’s proponents championed restructuring social reforms and laying an established structure of capitalism (Marx & Engels, 1848). The advocates of communism, fueled by an intense quest for social equality and social inclusivity, gave an in-depth reaction to the negative impacts of fast industrial growth, offering a compelling insight into inclusivity changes, just labor reforms, and a just societal setting. This shift formed the basis for the current engagements about the interplay between the advancement in industrial growth and social inclusivity, leaving a long-term impact in their quest to advocate just-working reforms and social inclusivity.
However, industrialization also spurred a series of positive socio-economic impacts. The lecture highlighted industrial growth as a powerful force that fostered increased innovation, increased production efficiency, and fueled specific societal settings. Notable illustrations include the development and expansion of the textile industry, generating job opportunities that absorbed the collapsing middle class and ultimately stabilizing the economies of European countries. Embracing advanced technological equipment, for instance, the steam engine, advanced the transportation and manufacturing industries, significantly improving the economy’s growth. These enhancements, which are the backbones of modern industrialized society, increased efficiency, fueled rural-urban migration and interconnected social settings, and reformed the social and cultural fabric, forming the basis for the coordinated globalized world we live in today.
In summary, the influence of industrial growth on European countries during the 19th century was a refined combination of beneficial and negative impacts. Growth of the economy and advancement of technology coexisted with severe occasions of unfavorable working conditions and increased economic inequalities. By delving into primary sources, for instance, the Sadler Committee’s report and Karl Marx’s “The Communist Manifesto,” this essay has convincingly asserted that the negative impacts were significant in enabling the exploited workers to fight for inclusivity and social reforms. The experience of European society during the 19th century with industrial growth was indeed transformative, reforming the path of societal settings and laying a solid foundation for ongoing conversations regarding the type of socio-economic systems. Ultimately, the history of industrial growth is one of the most significant changes, marked by lasting consequences for the advancement of current societies and the ongoing advancement of social and economic settings.
References
Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. (S. Moore, Trans.). Retrieved from https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifesto.pdf
Sadler, M. T. (1832). Report from the Select Committee on the Employment of Children in Factories.
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