Question

Rate each of the following effects of the Industrial revolution as, in your opinion, mostly positive or mostly negative: a) population growth, b) economic growth, c) standard of living, d) changes in family life, e) class divisions, and f) environmental changes. Explain your choices.

Answer 1

On a scale of mostly positive to mostly negative, following is the ranking

1. b) economic growth (The transition from an agrarian society to a much advanced one promised to bring about growth in the economy. The new organisational strategies increased production.)
2. a) population growth (Industrial revolution was followed by increase in urbanisation. This lead to population growth. Although this increased the labor supply but also brought down the per capita income. A high labor supply also lead to decline in wages.)
3. e) class divisions (Capitalism brought a class division between the 'proletariat' and 'bourgeoisie')
4. d) changes in family life (The Industrial Revolution completely transformed the role of the family. In the traditional agrarian society, family worked as a single unit. But the revolution sharply separated the work and home life. The economic role of women declined.)
5. c) standard of living (The quality of life decreased a great deal for many skilled workers.)
6. f) environmental changes (Industrialisation brought about crowded, dirty, and polluted neighborhoods. The quality of environment rapidly decreased. Large forest areas were cut down in order to build factories. The factory outpours caused air and water pollution.)