Did the Industrial Revolution create a better world?

Did the Industrial Revolution create a better world?

1. Sickness, poverty, disease and deformities

2. Materialism

3. Slavery

4. New scientific innovations create new drugs; some are addictive and destructive

5. Population increase means more consumption of food, energy and clothing

   • This causes factories to produce more energy and produce (exponential increase)

6. Environment

   • More machine -> more energy consumption -> more coal
   • Habitat destruction leads to the extinction of many species
   • Deforestation
   • Pollution of non bio-degradable objects. E.g. plastics, metal
   • Overfarming
   • Global warming and Climate Change
     • Increase in human and agricultural waste
     • Sudden boom of fossil fuel usage through machines such as steam engines leads to high carbon emissions
     • Melting ice caps
     • Sinking land, especially islands
     • Extreme weather conditions
     • uninhabitable environments

7. Employment

   • Child labour
   • Less jobs in countryside as people were replaced by machinery
   • Unsafe working conditions
   • No job security (person prepared to work more hours for less pay could take your job)

8. Advanced Technology

   • Medicine and Disability Services
   • Innovation allows people to use high tech in every day life. E.g. phones, microwaves, etc.
     • Easier living conditions
       • Air conditioning
       • Access to clean water
       • Electricity for heating, stoves, etc.
       • dishwashers and washing machines
       • Fresh produce
   • Buildings
     • Larger and sturdier
     • Can be built for many different purposes

9. Working Rights today

   • Minimum age (child labour no longer legal)
   • Minimum wage, ensures job security
   • Safe working conditions
   • Copyright laws

10. Production increase

    • Increased size of sheep and cows
      • Food production increase and became more efficient
    • Coal, iron and steel production increased, allowing manufacturing of machines and factories

11. Population increase (more workers)

12. New jobs