What if there is no the first industrial revolution in the world
What if there is no the first industrial revolution in the world?
When it comes to the first industrial revolution, it refers to the mechanisation of industry and the consequent changes in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. And then it expanded to other countries, such as France ,German America, Japan an so on . Until the end of 19th centuries, these countries all finished the revolution. Not only these countries above , but also the whole world, has been influenced by it. Let’s first have a look at the influences of it.
(1) Britain was by 1830 the “workshop of the world”.
（2）Towns grew rapidly and became the source of the nation’s wealth.
（3）Mechanization destroyed the livelihood of those who could not invest in it .
The working men worked and lived in appalling conditions.
（4）The industrial revolution created the industrial working class, the proletariat, and it later led to trade unionism. (Garrett)
There is no doubt that the first industrial revolution really plays an important role in the world, whatever aspect in people’s life. But if there is no the first industrial revolution , what the world will be ? Just imagine it.
For Britain, because of its good location, peaceful society, enough capital, laissez faire and other advantages, it caused the revolution and then became the “workshop of the world” by the year 1830. But without the help of revolution, it would not be the developed country and may be even annexed by other countries.
For the technol ogy, as we know, with the appearance of the John Kay’s flying shuttle, James Hargreaves’ Spinning Jenny and many other inventions, agriculture and
home based trade and industries gradually gave way to factory based industries with complex machinery.(Chomsky) So if the first industrial revolution did not happened, the world were still in the agriculture and home based trade and industries, let alone the invention of electricity in the second industrial revolution and the use of internet and biotechnology in the third one.
For the society, it is divided into two parts-- Industrial bourgeoisie and industrial proletariat, leading to the conflict between this two parts. So we can imagine that the world will keep peace and avoid abruption without the first industrial revolution.
For the people in these countries, those people in the bottom who could not adapt themselves into the changes of the society has suffered from the squeeze of the
mill-owner. That is to say ,the development of the society is at the cost of the sacrifice of millions of workers. Without the revolution ,the society may be more harmonious.
For the situation of the world, with the development of these countries, they began to expand and invade to other countries of the world, such as China. They raced to control the market and material producing area and sell products to Asia and Arica in the range of the whole world. (Forrester) take the example of China, for the both reason of invasion of capitalist nation and the corruption of Qing Government, C hina descended to semicolonial and semifeudal society, which is the start of nightmare of every Chinese. I wonder if there is no revolution ,no invasion, China may be much stronger than now, at least would not waste so much time struggling to get out of the semicolonial and semifeudal society.
For the continuation of the revolution, in the middle of 19th century, the labor movement rose which caused the roll of the society; The process of urbanization began leading the society more modern. What is more, the modern thought and technology spread to other parts of the world shocking their old thought and system. So that means, without the revolution, the world would not change any more and in the control of the old system.
In a word, we should thank any revolution, for they change our life and lead us a more brighter future, despite of some negative influences. And we should spare no effort to improve the society and try our best to avoid the negative influences.
Work Citation:
Abercrombie,Chomsky.
19 May 1996. 30 May. 2011
Forrester,H
21 November 2010.30 May.2011
6 May 2010.30 May.< https://www.360docs.net/doc/8d9910476.html,/view/a53ac3fff705cc175527>
Name :Han Xiaoqing
Class:08Q2
Number:20083007017