The Problem of the Industrial Revolution

January 26, 2000

I. The "Standard Model"
(Arnold Toynbee, Paul Mantoux, David Landes, Phyllis Deane, and others)

A. Related transformations

1. science
2. specialization
3. population movement
4. unit of production
5. agrarian labor becomes industrial
6. capital substituted for labor
7. new social classes

B. Related revolutions

1. Demographic revolution
2. Agricultural revolution
3. Commercial revolution
4. Transport revolution
5. Industrial revolution

II. Historical Issues: Causality

A. Cycles
B. Growth
C. Mentalities
D. Social structure

III. Historical Issues: Effects

A. Standards of living
B. Proletarianization
C. Organizations
D. Class
E. Gender

IV. The Present in the Past

A. Pessimism 1880-1950
B. Optimism 1950-1970
C. Pessimism 1970-1990
D. The industrial revolution according to Bill Gates?
E. Example of the applying the model incorrectly: the First Five Year Plan

V. The Problem of the Industrial Revolution

A. Factories?
B. Capitalism?
C. Nation-States?