8.2 Features of the Industrial Revolution

There were several outstanding features of the Industrial Revolution:

There was a change from the ’Domestic System’ to the ’Factory System.’ In the Domestic System, people used to work in their own homes, on hand-operated machinery that they owned. The capitalists distributed the raw material to the people and collected the finished product, by paying wages for it. However, in the Factory System, many workmen were assembled in one unit. They worked on power-driven machines, under supervision, thus establishing a wage tie between capital and labor.

Exhibit 8.1
The Domestic System of labor

1. Under the Domestic System, there was a very small output. Under the Factory System, large quantities of goods could be manufactured, owing to power driven machines and mass production.
2. Manufacturers used new basic materials such as iron and steel.
3. New energy sources like coal, electricity, petroleum and steam were made use of.
4. New machines were invented such as the Spinning Jenny, the Power Loom, the Cotton Gin, Davy’s Safety Lamp and the Steam Engine.
5. Science was increasingly applied to industry.
6. There was an agrarian revolution, which made a great improvement in the quality and quantity in agriculture.
7. Finally the Industrial Revolution introduced radical socio-economic, political, cultural and psychological changes in society.

Index

8.0 - Introduction
8.1 Meaning
8.2 Features of Industrial Revolution
8.3 Origin of Industrial Revolution
8.4 Course of Industrial Revolution
8.5 Spread of Industrial Revolution
8.6 Consequences of Industrial Revolution
8.7 Dates & Events
8.8 Points to Remember

Chapter 9