The Spread Of Industrialization In The 18th Century

In the 18th century the populations of Great Britain, China, Western Europe, and Japan increased greatly. The increase in population caused a focus in specialization of specific tasks and caused the people to stray away from cultivation. During this time there were growing industries, and the most popular styles were factory systems. During this time, products were made faster and more efficiently than ever. There was a huge need for steel, iron, cotton, and coal (Bentley, Ziegler pg. 654). In the beginning, Great Britain was the only place that had developed industrialization. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that industries had caught on in places like France, Belgium, Germany, and the United States.
Many European migrants were traveling to the United States at the time because they sought opportunities in starting businesses, and the large amount of natural recourses the land had to offer. To enhance transportation, in 1860 railroads were built to link the North and Midwest. Railroads offered cheap transportation, and was the cause of a growing need for coal, steal, and iron. With the world wide spread of industrialization, also came huge social changes.
That being said, a major downfall at this time was the negative social effects on our economy, the industrial revolution had. People left their farms to go work in factories (for lower wages). Migration was happening by the millions, and people came to America seeking opportunities. These changes led to new social classes, which effected how people lived their everyday lives. After the industrial shift, people had much different standards of living. People became much more materialistic because it was much cheaper to buy goods. But was this a positive effect of