CHAPTER
1
‹^133
The Industrial Revolution
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary: Between 1815 and 1914, the increasing demand for goods was
met by the creation of the factory system, which standardized and increased
industrial production. This chapter reviews the Industrial Revolution in Great
Britain, its uneven spread across Europe, and the social effects of industriali-
zation, including urbanization, standardization of work, and changes to the
class system. The chapter also describes new modes of scientific explanation,
such as the kinetic theory of gases and Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural
selection.Key Terms:
✪^ Industrial Revolution The phase of the industrialization process, lasting
roughly from 1820 to 1900, characterized by the advent of large-scale iron
and steel production, the application of the steam engine, and the develop-
ment of a railway system.
✪^ Factory system A system of production created in order to better supervise
and centralize labor, increasing efficiency. In the factory system, workers
came to a central location and worked with machines under the supervision
of managers.
✪^ Division of labor A technique whereby formerly complex tasks that required
knowledge and skill were broken down into a series of simple tasks, aided by
machines.KEY IDEA17
CHAPTER
17_Bartolini_Ch17_133-142.indd 133 27/04/18 1:55 PM