Chapter 25 Self Reflection

I thought this chapter was one of the most interesting chapters we have discussed all year. I have always been interested in imperialism and how empires grow, along with how Europeans would colonize most of Africa and Asia. I have always found it strange to see a video of an Indian with a British accent as I didn't understand why they spoke that way. I now know that it is because of the English occupation for so many years that many people now speak English as their native tongue because of the teaching of the British and their obligation to the "white man's burden". Along with that, I found it very interesting to see how China and Japan would be opened up to the outside world at this time, as prior to this point they were both lands of mystique and mystery, and within a short time period they both would be opened up for the entire world to see. Finally, the colonization of Africa was one of the most interesting things I have ever learned about in general. After reading The Heart of Darkness last year I wondered why it was a Belgian steamboat that Marlow rode down the Congo on, and now I see why with Leopold II's harsh rule over the area. I also found it interesting to read how South Africa became led by the Apartheid, as I had always wondered how such a small minority of white men could take over such a large area of Africa. Overall, I really enjoyed reading and learning this chapter, and it truly does show how this era would lead straight into World War I.

The Suez Canal

Back in the age of imperialism, the opening of the Suez Canal would be one of the biggest factors in the expansion of empires and commerce. With its opening, a much faster sea route to China and India would be available, and global trade exploded because of the new accessibility. In today's world, the Suez Canal still plays a huge part in trade and commerce between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The canal is controlled by the Suez Canal Authority, which is a non-nationalistic organization that controls and runs the canal and examines the commerce and goods that goes through the canal. It is a relatively small canal as it can only allow one ship at a time to pass through its waters, yet it is still one of the largest shipping waterways in the world. Still today is supports about eight percent of the entire world's shipping traffic, and almost fifty ships pass through it daily. It still supports the transport of goods from Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez, which is right next to the Indian Ocean. Goods are passed through from Europe to Asia in masses, and it ranks as one of the most widely used and important waterways in the shipping industry today.

Current Uprisings in Egypt

Just as there were political uprisings during the age of imperialism, there are uprising in today's world against oppressive regimes and corrupt governments. One of the most recent and powerful uprisings is occurring in Egypt to this day. On January 25, 2011, the political uprisings began in Egypt. Within the next month, President (dictator) Hosni Mubark stepped down from power and handed the power to the military ruling body, which promised to have parliamentary and presidential elections, and cede power to the new government. Within the time between the overthrow and elections, the military killed a small amount of protesters. Muslim brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi would be elected president in 2012, and quickly signed a decree that would give him more power, which would once again spark protests. Within the next year, the people would force Morsi out of office, led by military leader SiSi. Protests have continued until this day against the government and its moves, and Egypt is still in a state of emergency. It is tough to say how successful it has been, as they have placed and removed a man from office and are still protesting, and Egypt is still one of the most hostile areas in the world right now.

The Sepoy Mutiny

With the imperialistic ideas of spreading Christianity and bettering civilization in the third world countries around the world, many native people felt that their old ways of living were being threatened and rebelled against European colonization. One of the best examples of this occurring was in India, with the Sepoy Rebellion/Mutiny. Sepoys were Hindu mercenaries and soldiers that were fighting in the British Army to take control of India, who suddenly had a change of heart and switched sides to fight against the British. This change of mind occurred because of conflicts between the British and the Hindu religion, mainly the use of animal fats and other sacred items to the Hindu's that were used in the British army. The sepoys, over 300,000 of them, would drop their allegiance to the British, and would fight for their home country in this major rebellion. The garrison at Delhi would establish Bahadur Shah as their leader, and would go to war against the British and the East India Trading Company. As large as the Sepoy army would be, they would eventually be defeated handily by the British soldiers and army. This loss would lead to Britain taking complete control over India and its peoples, until the 1947 when Gandhi would lead the charge to independence in India.

US events during the Age of Imperialism

The Panama Canal

During the Age of Imperialism in Europe which was promoting a global economy and enhancing commerce, President Theodore Roosevelt had a project of his own going on in Central America. Determined to make an easier trade route for ships from the Atlantic to the Pacific, he set out to finish building the Panama Canal through Central America, which would cut traveling time by a huge amount. The canal would be finished in 1914 and is still an extremely important sea route today. This was very similar to the opening of the Suez Canal through the Middle East during this time. Just as the Panama Canal allowed faster trade to the Pacific, the Suez allowed a much faster trade route to India, Polynesia, and China than had previously existed, and commerce exploded because of it.


The Opening of Japan

During the Age of Imperialism in Europe, the United States employed tactics that were very similar to those of the Europeans in terms of commerce. Just as England came into China and opened their ports with the Treaty of Nanking, the United States Navy, led by Commodore Matthew Perry, came to Japan and used gunboat diplomacy to open Japan's ports to the outside world. This opening of Japan's ports would create a huge amount of commerce in this region. Prior to this point, Japan had been extremely secluded and used isolationist principles to keep foreigners out. Thanks to Perry and his ships, these ways were thrown out and Japan became a major shipping and trade area for the world, and would continue to be up until this day.

Has the United States been Imperialistic?

In our history, the United States has been a part of many events that could make people believe we have been imperialistic, and when we really take a close look at these events, we see that the US has been imperialistic, just not on the large scale that the Europeans have been. Some reasons that show that we have been imperialistic come from our interactions with Iraq and Afghanistan, the Mexican- American War, and the our interactions with Japan in the early twentieth century. In Iraq and Afghanistan, we didn't set up colonies as the Europeans did, yet we came in and tried to establish new governments that reflected our own constitution, founded in liberty and equality, just as the Europeans came in and tried to establish their ideas of civilization in the age of imperialism. In the Mexican-American War, we had expanded westward into Mexican territory and then fought a war over the land disputes, and came out on top with a huge expansion of territory that gave us some of the largest states in our nation. Finally, with Japan, we headed across the Pacific Ocean around the same time that Europeans were expanding into China and used gunboat diplomacy to force Japan to open its trading ports to the rest of the world. Some ways that show we haven't been imperialistic are the Panama Canal, Guam and Puerto Rico, and in some ways the Civil War. The Panama canal shows that we haven't been imperialistic as we could have easily taken over the small country for our own possession, yet we left them alone, helped build and fund the important canal, and left Panama alone after that. We did not force our government upon them or abuse the native people's ways of life, and we now have no control over the country. In Guam and Puerto Rico, they are now both United States Territories that we have gained, yet they are self sustaining and are free to have commerce and run their territory apart from our government. Finally, some argue that the Civil War shows how the United States has been imperialistic as the Union retook the Confederacy and reunited the country, but that is a false claim as it was an internal conflict and no territory was changed because of it, the country was just reunited.

US imperialism political cartoon

In this cartoon, the author is depicting the United State's attempt to spread its ideas and laws across the globe, such as anti-gun legislation, anti-drug laws, and democracy. In the author's opinion, he seems to see the US as overbearing and too powerful, as their influence is wrapping all the way around the Earth, and no country is left uncovered. I disagree with the author's opinion in this case, as I believe that at this time in history the United States has the least amount of influence as it has had in a long time. We are in a huge financial crisis and owe large sums of money to multiple countries around the world, and we cannot seem to find a way to fix our problems. We have a powerful military, but if we cannot figure out our domestic issues here soon then our military will not matter. We have become less and less respected by our allies, and we need to change this soon.

Imperialism Political Cartoons

In this political cartoon, titled "The Devilfish in Egyptian Waters", the author is depicting America's view on England's expansion across the world. The author believes that England is becoming too powerful and imperialistic, to the point that now they have a "tentacle" on each continent across the globe, and that it is overall a bad thing for the native people and countries. In my opinion, I believe the author is completely correct in his views and beliefs. England at this time had the largest empire in the world, and they had strong influence over global commerce. They changed Indian life forever with their control of the nation for many years, and implemented the Apartheid in South Africa which would last until the 1990's! England at this time was much too powerful, and disrupted the balance of power that Europe had agreed on after the Napoleonic Era.

In this French political cartoon, the author is depicting the Berlin Conference and how the European powers agreed to split the continent using "effective occupation". The author seems to believe that this system of colonization was a fair way to split Africa as each European power is represented, and it appears that Bismarck is cutting the pieces of Africa fairly equally among the nations. I believe that the author is correct with his views, as effective occupation in my mind was a very fair way to split Africa. No longer could countries just come into the continent and claim land at will, they now had to be doing something in that area and have people living there, making it much fairer and more effective, along with providing all nations a chance to claim land, not just the first one to make to to a certain area.

Imperialism in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Chapter 25 - The West and the World: 1815-1914

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, European powers began to expand their horizons and envision vast, powerful empires that would benefit their countries economically and politically. Due to the unifying of many countries that occurred previous to this era, especially in Germany, nationalistic and racist ideas glorifying the white man began to sprout up all across Europe. Going along with these social developments, new technologies such as steam engines and vaccines for malaria were being produced in masses, allowing exploration of many areas that were unaccessable up to this point, especially in Africa. Exploration of the Congo would now be possible through steamships, which would lead to Belgium beginning their horrible reign in that area of Africa. Commerce, Christianity, and Civilization would be the three main goals of European imperialism at this time, and all three would be brought to the various colonies, sometimes successful and sometimes not. This large spread of European ideals would change the world forever and still have lasting effects until this day.

In this blog, I hope to explain how the European age of imperialism changed the world incredibly at that time, and still has effects in today's world. Along with this I want to show in detail how the countries and continents that were colonized by Europeans were changed and affected, and if the European expansion into their territory was beneficial or not. Finally, I want to explain how the United States played into all of this, and if they too were imperialistic or not. 

EQ: "What were the main European motives for imperialism and were they effective in their endeavors?"

The main European motives for European imperialism in this time period were to improve commerce and economy, spread Christianity and its teachings to the "heathens" in Africa and other areas of the globe, and bring European style civilization and government to third world countries that they would colonize. In some cases, they were very successful in these motives, but in others not so much. Many of the colonies in Africa would bring in huge profits from natural raw resources such as diamonds, and Christianity would be spread to many of the countries there as well. However, in Asian countries Europeans faced resistance to Christianity and Civilization as the native peoples were extremely reluctant to give up their old ways of life, and even had anti-European uprisings in these areas, such as India and China. Despite these uprisings, the Europeans would overall be very successful in their endeavors in Africa, Asia, and the rest of the colonized world.

Chapter 22 Self Reflection

I truly thought this was one of the more interesting chapters to read this year. The huge, radical change that occurred during this time period is astounding. Just the fact that four major revolutions occurred in the same year, 1848, is astounding, and is a testament to how powerful the feelings of nationalism truly were. Marx provided a new way of social thinking that would empower workers and lead to the formation of unions and protective services, and his philosophies would become very popular throughout the world. We despise him today because his philosophies have been skewed and abused by the nations that adopted his communist ideologies. The revolutions of 1848 really shaped Europe into the continent we know it as today, and as a result we see many of the smaller, very proud countries such as Greece and Hungary appear. Romanticism and its works are still very popular today, and the artwork and music of that period is still viewed with great reverence. Democracies were sprouting up across the continent, and they will become the governments of these countries up until this very day. 

Listening to the Past Chapter 22, Karl Marx's "Manifesto"

Karl Marx was a German philosopher and economist who is most famous for his theory called Marxian Socialism, better known as communism. Marx agreed with many of the basic tenets of socialism, but disagreed with the main idea that the rich would help the poor in a socialistic society. Marx believed in his form of socialism that the interests of the middle class and those of the industrial working class were always opposed to each other. Marx in his studies predicted that the poor working class would inevitably revolt against the upper class with violence, and a new, classless regime would be put in place. Everything would be owned by the government, and everyone would be given what they needed to survive by the government. Marx's most famous work The Communist Manifesto, which he wrote along with Friedrich Engels, would soon become the communist/socialist "bible" of the time. In it he urged workers to unite and revolt against the noble class, as they were much more vast and powerful than they realized, and they had nothing to lose but the chains that bound them.

Excerpt from The Communist Manifesto
"The Communists fight for the attainment of the immediate aims, for the enforcement of the momentary interests of the working class; but in the movement of the present, they also represent and take care of the future of that movement. In France, the Communists ally with the Social-Democrats against the conservative and radical bourgeoisie, reserving, however, the right to take up a critical position in regard to phases and illusions traditionally handed down from the great Revolution...
But they never cease, for a single instant, to instill into the working class the clearest possible recognition of the hostile antagonism between bourgeoisie and proletariat, in order that the German workers may straightway use, as so many weapons against the bourgeoisie, the social and political conditions that the bourgeoisie must necessarily introduce along with its supremacy, and in order that, after the fall of the reactionary classes in Germany, the fight against the bourgeoisie itself may immediately begin. 
The Communists turn their attention chiefly to Germany, because that country is on the eve of a bourgeois revolution that is bound to be carried out under more advanced conditions of European civilisation and with a much more developed proletariat than that of England was in the seventeenth, and France in the eighteenth century, and because the bourgeois revolution in Germany will be but the prelude to an immediately following proletarian revolution...
The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working men of all countries, Unite!

America during the Political Changes in Europe: The Mexican-American War and American Romanticism

The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

Right around the time that many ethnic groups were beginning to have strong, nationalistic emotions in Europe that would lead to revolution, the United States was having a similar experience. America was gaining strength and went to war against Mexico in attempt to expand their territory. This bred feelings of patriotism and nationalism throughout the country and would eventually expand the territory of the United States greatly. Zachary Taylor would become famous thanks to his role in this war and would ride this popularity into the presidency. America would gain the vast territory from Texas to California to become a continental power. This event offered a sharp contrast to what was going on in Europe in terms of nations and empires. As empires were getting split and new countries were forming in Europe thanks to nationalistic feelings, those same feelings were driving America and making it a stronger country, one that in the next few years would rival all of Europe in production and strength.


American Romanticism

While the Romantic movement was sweeping across Europe, the same event was happening across the Atlantic Ocean in America. The Romantic movement was felt greatly not only in Europe but in America as well. The ideas of nature and its power, emotional exuberance, and unrestrained imagination reigned free in the art and literature of this time. Edgar Allen Poe, Herman Melville, and Nathaniel Hawthorne were three of the most famous Romantic writers in America and their works are still extremely popular today. Poe's works especially had an incredible imagination, however dark it may be, and he showed the power of emotion with his many stories of tragedy and pain. Along with this, art began to depict the power of the American landscape, and emotions were powerful in much of the music at the time.

Ludwig van Beethoven and Klemens von Metternich

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He is considered to be one of the greatest composers in human history and his music is still incredibly famous today. He was important to this age of revolution and new ideologies because his music was the greatest example of the Romantic movement in music at the time. The romantic movement focused on nature and its awe, and it offered a contrast to the ideas presented in the Enlightenment. Romantics believed in great emotional power and unrestrained imagination, which paralleled the ideas of revolution and the emotions that came with them. In its purest essence, the Romantic movement was to art and music as the revolutions were to the empires of Europe. Beethoven's music was breathtaking and brought forth great human emotion, something radically different from the music before him. His most famous works were his Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 9, and both are still extremely popular with musicians today. Towards the end of his career, he began to go deaf, and in the last few years of his life he was completely deaf, yet he continued to write incredible and powerful music; a testament to how rare and incredible of a composer he truly was.


Klemens von Metternich (1773-1859)

Klemens von Metternich was an Austrian politician who served as Austria's foreign minister during the Congress of Vienna and the years following as part of the Holy Alliance. Metternich's policies were so effective and powerful that this time period is called the Age of Metternich after him. Metternich was extremely conservative, and was against revolution of any kind. In the years following the French Revolution, Metternich and his forces put down multiple revolutions within the Austrian Empire. His policies dominated Austria, the Italian peninsula, and the German Confederation. Within the German States he issued the infamous Carlsbad Decrees which censored speech and the press, and gave authorities the right to crush any liberal organization within the states. He believed that strong governments were necessary to protect society from revolution, and the nobility should be at the head of this government. He had to be against revolution politically as well, as Austria was made up of many ethnic groups that would threaten to split his empire if they were to revolt. He was important to this time period as his politics were the dominating force in Europe for many years after the French Revolution. However, his politics also were one of the leading causes of the 1848 revolution within Austria that split it, and made Hungary and Croatia (along with various other states) their own nation.

Karl Marx

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Karl Marx was a German philosopher and economist who is most famous for his theory called Marxian Socialism, better known as communism. Marx agreed with many of the basic tenets of socialism, but disagreed with the main idea that the rich would help the poor in a socialistic society. Marx believed in his form of socialism that the interests of the middle class and those of the industrial working class were always opposed to each other. Marx in his studies predicted that the poor working class would inevitably revolt against the upper class with violence, and a new, classless regime would be put in place. Everything would be owned by the government, and everyone would be given what they needed to survive by the government. He based his theory on George Hegel's dialectic process of humanity, only instead of endlessly repeating the cycle would end with the classless government. Marx believed in the power of the workers, and believed that profits were just stolen wages. He urged the working class to unite for they had nothing to lose but the chains that bound them. Marx was important to this time period as he offered a new way of thinking to oppose the socialist and liberal economic thinkers, and was a huge supporter of the working class. The people of this class rallied around his ideas, and became stronger and more united thanks to his radical ideas.

Powerful Political Changes in the Nineteenth Century

Chapter 22: Ideologies and Upheavals

Thanks to the political and economic changes brought forth by the Industrial Revolution and French Revolution, Europeans began to think differently about life and what the best system of politics should be. New ideas began spring up all across the continent, some more powerful and radical than others, while some were more practical for the country they originated in. Revolutions due to nationalistic thinking sprung up around the continent, and many of them were in the very same year. Economics and politics were beginning to change and combine during these revolutions, which led to the idea of a dual revolution occurring at this time. Powerful emotions towards new nations and ideas also sprung up in literature, music, and art thanks to the Romantic Movement. During this time period, Europe began to change dramatically in both its politics and its culture.

In this blog I hope to discuss the multitude of political ideologies that came about during this time, with a focus on socialism, marxism (communism), and nationalism. I also want to touch upon the great number of revolutions that occurred during this time period and their effects, especially the ones of 1848. Finally, I want to talk about how these changes in both the politics and ideologies helped shape Europe and lead it to becoming what it is today.

EQ: "How did the revolutions of 1848 shape Europe and what was the overarching cause of all the revolutions?"

The revolutions of 1848 pretty much brought Europe into the shape that we know it as today with regards to political boundaries of nations. Greece became independent, the German States unified into the nation of Germany, and the Austrian empire would split into a multitude of countries including Hungary and Croatia. France would once again lead the way with revolution, and become a democratic nation after many years of struggle. Nationalism would be the force driving these revolutions as people were beginning to become more patriotic and supportive of their own nations, and were focusing on their own nation's growth and development instead of Europe's as a whole.

Chapter 21 Self Reflection

I thought this chapter was very interesting to read. The industrial evolution was extremely important to the development of Europe, and would help shape many of the things that will help lead to the development of modern day Europe. I found it very interesting to see how the Industrial Revolution would shape the social and economic systems of Europe so dramatically, creating a new, powerful middle class and diving the labor into separate spheres between men and women. The huge developments in power and transportation led to the creation of powerful locomotives and manufacturing devices that gave man almost unlimited power for the first time in history. The growing population hurt the development of industry, much like how overpopulation threatens to destroy the economy of many nations around the world today. Unemployment was also huge at this time, and we face a similar crisis right now here in America. Along with the developments in industry, the ideas of economic liberalism and economic nationalism shone through as the two main economic systems in Europe at the time, and these will stay as two of the strongest economic systems even today. Basically, the Industrial Revolution would lead to the beginning of the transformation towards modern day Europe.

Ch. 21 Listening to the Past: Friedrich List, "National System of Political Economy"

Friedrich List was a German journalist and thinker who wrote about how the government played a larger role in industry in continental Europe than in England. He was a strong supporter of the growth of industry as he believed that industry and manufacturing were a great way to increase the overall well-being of people and increasing the overall wealth of a country. He believed that the "backward" and "advancing" countries as he called them were starting to separate from each other faster and faster, and the longer a country was "backward"  the more dangerous it would be for it as a whole. A backward country would be poor and weak as it based its economy off agriculture and not off industry. He disagreed with the system of economic liberalism set forth by Adam Smith,and believed that Germany would be better off with a system that supported manufacturing. In his most famous work, National System of Political Economy, List argued for the creation of a customs union, which he called the Zollverein, between the German States to boost the economy and promote industrialization.

Excerpt from National System of Political Economy

"The practical importance of the great question of free trade between nations is generally felt in our day, as also the necessity of investigating, with impartiality, once for all, how far theory and practice have erred on this subject, and how far any reconciliation between them is possible. It is at least needful to discuss seriously the problem of such a reconciliation. 

It is not indeed with any assumed modesty, it is with the feeling of a profound mistrust of his power, that the author ventures upon this attempt; it is after resisting many years his inclination, after having hundreds of times questioned the correctness of opinions and again and again verifying them; after having frequently examined opposing opinions, and ascertained, beyond a doubt, their inaccuracy, that he determined to enter upon the solution of this problem. He believes himself free from the empty ambition of contradicting old authorities and propounding new theories. If the author had been an Englishman, he would probably never have entertained doubts of the fundamental principle of Adam Smith's theory. It was the condition of his own country which begot in him, more than twenty years since, the first doubts of the infallibility of that theory; it was the condition of his country which, since that time, determined him to develop, first in anonymous articles, then in more elaborate treatises, not anonymous, contrary opinions. At this moment, the interests of Germany alone give him the courage to publish the present work; he will however not dissemble, that a personal motive is connected with those interests; that is, the necessity in which he is placed of showing by a treatise of some extent, that he is not quite incompetent to treat of political economy.... 

The civilization, political education and power of nations, depend chiefly on their economical condition and reciprocally; the more advanced their economy, the more civilized and powerful will be the nation, the more rapidly will its civilization and power increase, and the more will its economical culture be developed....

America during the Industrial Revolution: Northeast Industrialization and the Cotton Gin

Northeast Industrialization

While the Industrial Revolution was going on in Europe, a similar change in America was happening as well. In the Northeast, America was becoming increasingly industrialized. Factories were popping up across the northeast and workers were immigrating to America in masses hoping to find a better life. Large companies were starting to form, and the northeast was turning away from old agricultural lifestyles to one of manufacturing and wage workers, and the idea of separate spheres really came into existence. This is just as how all of Europe was becoming more industrialized during this age, and factories were becoming more and more popular overseas as well. Wage earning and the idea of separate spheres were becoming popular in both places, and the trend in the northeast was to manufacture for a living, much like how it was in England.






The Cotton Gin

Even though the Northeast was known for its industry and the South was known for its agriculture, the developments of the Industrial Revolution played a major impact in the South as well, and led it to becoming one of the largest and most productive agricultural hubs in the world. The invention that led the way in this growth was the Cotton Gin. Invented in 1793 by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin allowed automated removal of the cotton seeds in the cotton fibers, which was previously done by hand. This increased the efficiency of cotton production dramatically, and quickly cotton became the biggest cash crop in the south and one of the most important products in the world. This invention was comparable to James Watt's steam engine in terms of importance to its country and the world around it. Just as James Watt's engine allowed England to burst ahead in the manufacturing world, the cotton gin allowed the American South to charge ahead and become the agricultural center of the world.

Friedrich List

Friedrich List (1789-1846)

Friedrich List was a German journalist and thinker who wrote about how the government played a larger role in industry in continental Europe than in England. He was a strong supporter of the growth of industry as he believed that industry and manufacturing were a great way to increase the overall well-being of people and increasing the overall wealth of a country. He believed that the "backward" and "advancing" countries as he called them were starting to separate from each other faster and faster, and the longer a country was "backward"  the more dangerous it would be for it as a whole. A backward country would be poor and weak as it based its economy off agriculture and not off industry. Basically List believed that to promote industry was the same as defending the nation. He argued that the formation of a customs union in the German States, which he called the Zollverein, would help the economy greatly. His ideas led to the formation of such a union in 1834 . List's idea of economic nationalism as it came to be known would become very popular in German and other places on continental Europe. List was important because he was the first to truly develop an economic system that would rival the laissez-faire system used in England, and provided a way for many young countries to get started in industry and develop their own manufacturing systems.

Thomas Malthus (1766-1834)

Thomas Malthus was born in England in 1766 and would become one of the most important political and philosophical thinkers during the Industrial Revolution. He discussed many ideas about the economics of the industrial revolution and what they meant for the people of England, and he was very well respected. However, his most famous work, Essay on the Principle of Population, was concerning the rapid growth of population in Europe and its effects on the economy. In this essay, Malthus stated his belief that the population will always grow to a point at which the ability to sustain life will be strained, and the lower classes will suffer greatly because of this. He believed that population would always tend to grow faster than the food supply, and the checks to this growth were war, famine, and disease. His ideas would influence David Ricardo's famous iron law of wages, and his ideas would be prevalent throughout the industrial revolution. He is important to this time period as he was one of the main critics to the effects of the Industrial Revolution, and presented some of the large and daunting negatives about this expanding growth of population and new wage working system to the public eye. His thought that wages would always be just barely enough to survive on for the lower class were spot on, as many people in the lower classes of living would suffer through these years with only the bare necessities to live on.

James Watt (Ch. 21)

James Watt (1736-1819)

Born in Scotland in 1736, James Watt would become an incredibly famous figure in the world of energy and mechanical engineering. While he was studying at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, he was called upon to work on a Newcomer steam engine. After studying it for a bit of time, he realized the engine could become much more efficient if a separate condenser was added, and Watt made this device himself and it greatly improved the efficiency of the steam engine. Watt would partner with Matthew Boulton in 1775 to industrialize his invention, and he would become extremely successful. His steam engine would be used throughout Europe for many things, including the powerful new locomotives that would cross the continent. He is important to the Industrial Revolution as his steam engine provided man with an almost unlimited power to use for creating and developing new things. His innovation was seen as one of the greatest in all of human history, and he is seen as one of the most influential men in his field and throughout human history.

Energy and Industry in a Developing Europe

Chapter 21: The Revolution in Energy and Industry

During the political revolutions in France at the time leading the way for a new way of politics, a similar change in economics and social classes was occurring, especially in Great Britain. This change would come to be known as the Industrial Revolution and it would improve the lives of many people throughout Europe. Work would become mainly for wages instead of for agriculture and food, and a much more complex social structure would come to be. A higher style of living for all classes would come to be accepted by everyone, and now commoners in the upper middle class would rival the aristocracy in wealth and social class. However, a growing population throughout Europe would threaten these developments as not enough jobs were being created at the time, and it would make this transition to a more industrialized Europe very rough.

In this blog I hope to discuss the important people of the Industrial Revolution in Europe, primarily in Great Britain, and explain what how their developments led to the improvements in social structure and lifestyle for all people. I also hope to gain a better understanding for how the Industrial Revolution influences my life here in America today, as many of its developments are still seen today in our own social structure.

My essential question for this chapter is "How did the Industrial Revolution change the economic and social structure of Europe?"
The Industrial Revolution changed the economic and social structure of Europe dramatically. For the first time, the middle class was beginning to expand thanks to factory owners and industrial capitalists to the point that it rivaled the aristocracy in power and wealth. People now earned better wages and were better educated, which would form the modern idea of a middle class and the people were working for their lifestyle, creating the working class as well. However, children would now become close to slaves, working for very little money for over 12 hours a day in factories, which would lead to new legislation passed to protect them in England. The idea of separate spheres also came about thanks to the Industrial Revolution, where women were expected to be the homemakers instead of being co-wage earners with their husbands, and men were expected to be the wage-earners or "breadwinners" of the household. Single women were not given equal pay or equal opportunities as compared to men of the same age as them, and this idea of sexual division of labor would become commonplace throughout Europe.